Memories From Belleville

The Covenant Is Signed

The Missionary Diocese of All Saints

Bishops Bill Ilgenfritz, Frederick Fick, and Richard Lipka address the delegates of Forward in Faith - North America Annual Assembly.

MSJ and MDAS To Establish Covenant

This week, at the Forward in Faith Annual Assembly, the Missionaries of St John and the Missionary Diocese of All Saints are expected to formally approve a covenant establishing shared ecclesial and sacramental life and mission. Both the MSJ and the MDAS are members of the Forward in Faith family.

Bishop Frederick Fick, Father General of the MSJ says,
"Our Catholic faith compels us and our desire for common mission draws us to the Missionary Diocese of All Saints. Bishop William Ilgenfritz, Bishop Ordinary of the MDAS, has been extraordinarily hospitable and helpful in assisting us in this process. We look forward to continuing our missionary work as part the Diocese. As evangelical Anglican Catholics, our convictions do not permit us to live and work independently."

"We are a religious order, or more accurately, a missionary society with a particular Rule of Life that commits us to daily prayer, sacrificial living and giving, as the Holy Spirit grants us the grace to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. Forward in Faith established the Missionary Diocese as a home, a place to live out our faith witness. How could we not share in what we see as the Lord's calling?"

The MSJ will caucus Wednesday evening at Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, Illinois as the FiF Annual Assembly opens and delegates are expected to enthusiastically endorse the covenant.

Forward In Faith Annual Assembly

Forward In Faith Annual Assembly

In two weeks, the family of believers known as Forward In Faith, North America will gather for the National Assembly - 2010, at Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL. We are excited to share once again in these days of worship, work and fellowship. For more information, go to http://fifna.org/. The Missionaries of St John expect to sign a covenant with the FiF Missionary Diocese of All Saints, establishing the MSJ within the diocese.

Collect For Memorial Day

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead: We give thee thanks for all those thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our county. Grant to them thy mercy, and the light of thy presence, that the good work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

St. John the Apostle Parish Newsletter

Also viewable here: http://www.stjohnapostle.org/clientimages/49480/spring2010.pdf

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Kent Ohio Gathering - MDAS

Bishop Bill Ilgenfritz paid a visit to Fr. David Mathus and Holy Cross Anglican Church, Kent, Ohio on Thursday evening, May 20. The meeting included a dinner fellowship, conversation and eucharist. Terry Moore, Francis Wardega, Patricia Wardega, John Geyer, Ray Zeitz, and Marlene Zeitz, all of the MSJ, attended. Three MSJ postulants also joined in the evening of warm fellowship. In his sermon, Bishop Bill stressed the mission of the church is to care for one another, help those in need, and to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer For Marriage

Fr. Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) included this prayer in his book "Rules of Holy Living".

May God bless you.

Fr. Tim Doubblestein MSJ

O eternal and gracious Father, who hast consecrated the estate of marriage to become mysterious, and to represent the union of Christ and his church, let Thy holy Spirit so guide me in the doing the duties of this state that it may not become a sin unto me, nor that liberty which Thou hast allowed by Thy holy Jesus become an occasion of licentiousness by my own weakness and sensuality; and do Thou forgive all those irregularities and too sensual applications which may have in any degree discomposed my spirit and the severity of a Christian. Let me in all accidents and circumstances be severe in my duty towards Thee, affectionate and dear towards my wife [or husband], a guide and a good example to my family, and in all quietness, sobriety, prudence and peace, a follower of those holy pairs who have served Thee with godliness and a good testimony. And the blessings of the eternal God, blessings of the right hand and of the left, be upon the body and soul of Thy servant my wife [or husband], and abide upon her [or him] till the end of a holy and happy life; and grant that both of us may live together for ever in the embraces of the holy and eternal Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Collect For The MSJ

Almighty God, who anointed thy well-beloved Son with the Holy Spirit, that he might preach the Gospel to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim deliverance to the captive, and recovery of sight to the blind; to set at liberty those held in the bondage of oppression and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord’s favour: pour out, we beseech thee, this same Holy Spirit on the Missionaries of St. John the Evangelist, that, following their Lord’s example, they also may proclaim, by words of power and deeds of mercy, the everlasting Gospel of repentance, reconciliation and restoration, and draw those who hear this Gospel from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest, one God in glory everlasting. Amen.

Roy Newman

Into thy hands, O merciful Savior, we commend thy servant Roy Newman. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech thee, a sheep of thine own fold, a lamb of thine own flock, a sinner of thine own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of thy mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

Deacon Roy Newman, MSJ has passed from this world to eternal life with his Master. Roy now serves with the angels, archangels and all the company of heaven and joins their unending praise.

Rest in peace, good friend. Until we meet again on that heavenly shore, we will miss you very, very much.

Prayers For The Flood Victims

Click on photos below to enlarge.

Our MSJ parish in Liberty, KY reports that water has flooded the city. Fr Bob Lemmon, pastor of Christ the King Anglican, sends along these photos of devastation. Our hearts and prayers attend those suffering. Please join us in these prayers. Any assistance you wish to give may be directed to the MSJ or the Christ the King Anglican, Liberty, KY. All such earmarked funds will be used exclusively to assist victims in Liberty.

The Missionary Diocese of All Saints

The Missionary Diocese of All Saints has a website.

We encourage you to take a look.

Global South Anglican Leaders Gather

From GlobalSouthAnglican.org

At the stroke of four, the primates and bishops, led by the Cathedral choir, processed into St Andrew’s Cathedral’s Nave. The 250-strong congregation, comprising Encounter participants, observers and Singaporean church leaders; rose to the processional hymn “Praise my soul, the King of Heaven.

The Fourth Anglican Global South to South Encounter has started.

It’s apt that St Andrew’s Cathedral is chosen as the host venue of this Encounter. A weekly average of 4,000 worshippers meet here over 17 Services and 8 language groups. This Cathedral is indeed a light to the nations.

The Encounter’s theme ““The Gospel of Jesus – a covenant for the people, and a light for the nations” was the rallying call of Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola’s sermon at the Opening Service.

Abp Akinola noted how the Covenant and the Light of the World was embodied in our Lord Jesus Christ. This role has now been assigned by Him to His body, the church. What does this entail for the church and the Anglican Communion today? He reminded us that the Encounter was a call to action – not just to craft a statement - but to positively impact the world.

As a Covenant, the church has the responsibility to show others how to live according to God’s dictates. This requires her to be absolute, faithful and adherent. As a light, the church is to expose and overcome darkness. In our current situation, how do we go about being a Covenanted people? Abp Akinola acknowledged there are tough questions facing the Anglican Communion but also expressed his hope and expectation that the Encounter might be able to tackle some of these questions by the grace of God.

After the Opening Service, the evening continued after dinner with various words of welcome and first thematic address at the Cathedral New ‘underground’ Sanctuary.

Ecumenical observers shared words of welcome. Elder Fu Xianwei, Chairman of the National Committee of the Three Self Patriotic Movement of China Christian Church, shared on his Church’s desire to learn from the wider Body of Christ. He also indicated hope that the Church in China can contribute in some way to this mutual learning process. The Church worldwide is facing modern and diverse challenges. Even though his Church is founded on the three-self principles, they will still need to be connected to the wider Church.

His Grace Bishop Anba Suriel, the representative of the Coptic Orthodox Church, reminded us that the Covenant of Christ involves the shedding of blood. For some, it means martyrdom or death as we will normally understand that word. It is a price still being paid by some today, as did some Egyptian Coptic Christians last Christmas. However, to be faithful in our witness is also one form of martyrdom. It is costly to remain faithful to the truth and teaching of Scriptures. He said his Church is praying that this Encounter will be a faithful witness in the midst of challenges in the Communion.

We were reminded of the seeds of the Anglican Church growing in various parts of Asia. Pastor Rinzi Lama and Pastor Shyam from the Anglican Church in Nepal shared on the grace of God in helping the Anglican Church in Nepal, though still in her infancy, to grow to 7,000 worshippers today.

The new Primate of Nigeria, Abp Nicholas Okoh gave the first Thematic Address on “The Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Abp Okoh’s message delved deeply on the problems facing our Communion today, concluding that the vital need for us today is to remain faithful and preach boldly a message of good news centred squarely on our Lord Jesus Christ. Abp Okoh’s message called for the church to remember the key motifs of the Gospel – a pursuit of evangelism, obedience, peace and love, as well as a call to repentance, suffering for the gospel, and ultimately, transformation of our lives and societies. The Encounter is therefore a timely reminder for the church to return to a covenantal relationship with God and to be real light in the world.

Abp John Chew closed the day by sharing on the aims and structure of this Encounter.

With this, the first day of the Encounter ended. Participants retired into the night to rest and be refreshed for the work in the days ahead.

(Featured Photo: Archbishops and bishops outside the Nave before processing in.)

Annual Assembly - Forward In Faith

Forward In Faith North America
Annual Assembly 2010

“Renewing the Spirit of the Oxford Movement”

June 16-18, 2010
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL

For Registration and further information

http://fifna.org/news/forward-in-faith-na-assembly-2010

The Resurrection Of Our Lord

Are there any who are devout lovers of God?


Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!



Are there any who are grateful servants?


Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!



Are there any weary with fasting?


Let them now receive their wages!



If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;


If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.


He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!


First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!

Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.



Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.



Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!




The Easter sermon of John Chrysostom (circa 400 AD)

Just in time for Holy Week and Easter the new sign for Holy Trinity Hurst, Texas has arrived. Special thanks to all those who helped to clean the plastic boards and mount the new "wrap".

This sign promises to last for years to come with no fading. Alleluia!

Kentucky Chapter Holds Meeting

Beginning with praying together the Morning Office, the Kentucky

Chapter of the MSJ met this weekend at Christ the King Anglican Church, Liberty, Kentucky. Fr Bob Lemmon served as host. The Chapter focused its discussion on the immediate issues of fulfilling our founding mandate of unity within the body of Christ, the role the Society plays in that mission, especially as it relates to the recent Roman Catholic Church's Anglican Aposto

lic Constitution, the Anglican Church in North America and particularly Forward in Faith.

This June, Forward in Faith will hold its Annual Assembly in Belleville, Illinois and many chapter members spoke of the blessing last year's gathering was to them. Everyone was encouraged to attend and committed to inviting others to do so as well.

The chapter resolved to pray for the opening of an Anglican prayer and fellowship mission in the Bardstown, KY area. Fr. Rickey and Brenda Brown live in Bardstown and are praying for the Lord's blessing and guidance on this endeavor.

And Then There Were 9

Ezra Jude Lemmon entered this world yesterday in Stanford, Kentucky. Ezra is the new born son of Fr. Robert and Mary Lemmon. Fr Bob pastors Christ the King Anglican parish in Liberty, Ky.

The birth of a child, a gift of God is always a special and joyful event. In this case, however, Ezra is the 9th "Lemmon drop". When counting off while loading the car, Ezra will soon enough have to call out, "Nine". Congratulations to the Lemmon family and welcome Ezra!!

Our prayers are answered. Mother and baby are doing fine.

MSJ March Calendar

Click on calendar to enlarge

note: This pastoral was written and posted a year ago. It seems appropriate to post it again.

It Isn't Easy Being Anglican

At the heart of the various difficulties in embracing the Anglican world is the brokenness of Anglicanism itself. While this church is as historic as any, more prolific than most and wonderfully rich in its liturgy, it is today a broken church. Once merely the church of the British Isles, the empire took this way of faith around the world. The Anglican way grew to be a large body of Christians second only to Rome and Orthodoxy.

Even today, Christians of the Anglican faith are on the front lines geographically in the global south. Every day, Anglicans spread the Gospel, form parishes, teach the faith, and make converts of unbelievers. In a few short years, the number of Anglican Christians in Nigeria, the Sudan, Congo, Indonesia and many other places have swelled to be counted in the tens of millions. It may be said with integrity that Anglicans are taking a back seat to no other Christian tradition in spreading the faith of Jesus Christ in the 2/3 world. In Latin America, where Anglican Christians had little more than a few scattered chapels just a decade ago, the church is vibrant, robust and growing by leaps and bounds.

Meanwhile, these same vibrant Christians have witnessed the scandal of what passes as Anglican Christianity in the “material west”.

With deep respect I say, Rome has not captured my heart, nor has Orthodoxy taken hold of my soul. But it would be unfair to characterize my own choice as merely one of default, that is, having examined both of the other sisters of apostolic faith and having found myself identifying with the Anglican way solely because I would not or could not choose one of them. I am not Anglican merely because I found myself having to “settle” for some supposed lesser thing.

No, I am orthodox, catholic, but Anglican.

Rome and, to a much lesser degree, Orthodoxy are more magisterial, more hierarchal and appear better equipped to make things “tidy”. The Anglican way is no place for those who cannot live within tensions. It is an impossibly challenging and difficult place for those who desire or need “tidy”. The Anglican way is freer, but it is messy. It just is what it is. Some say that is both the magic and the limp of the Anglican way.

Yet, where would the Christian faith be without her? There would have been no King James Bible, no Book of Common Prayer, and while I won’t flesh out my complete thoughts here, no civilization as we know it in the west. This is my opinion, I grant you, but the Anglican contribution to the western world simply cannot be measured.

The best I can likely do in this broken family, this Anglican Church, is to find a place of honesty and integrity. First, I must recognize how messed up this group is, and this I honestly confess. Secondly, whenever I hear of the difficulties that Romans have or the Orthodox have (or the troubles among the free church Evangelicals, for that matter) nothing in me sees the need to gloat. Humility should always forbid it, but for Anglicans, this is a particularly humbling era.

I choose to walk in the Anglican way because I honestly believe the Lord has led me to walk in this way. I believe He ordered my steps. I know. I know there is a risk in making such a statement. It may appear that I “fix blame” for my love for the Prayer Book on the Lord and dodge my own responsibilities in the matter of my Christian witness.

Yet, I testify that my prayer life finds its home in the Prayer Book the way the swallow finds her home near the altar in Jerusalem. I am Anglican.

There is work to do wherever one finds oneself planted by the Lord in His vineyard. There is pruning to do, weeds to pull, walls to rebuild, marauders to defend against, plants to husband, fruit to grow and a harvest to bring in. Perhaps some vineyards are harder to work than others, this I grant you, but none are the Paradise of God, not yet. This is the cry we hear, even now, emanating from the Eschaton.

Sola Gratia,

+Frederick G. Fick MSJ

February 18. 2009

FiFNA Executive Council To Meet This Week

The Executive Council of Forward In Faith, North America, meets Tuesday and Wednesday of this week in the greater Tampa, Florida area. Bishop Frederick Fick MSJ will be attending. We pray for the work of the Council and for safe travels for all attending.

A Call To A Holy Lent

Dear People of God:

The first Christians observed with great
 devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and
 it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided 
a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy 
Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of 
notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful 
were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to 
the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation 
was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set 
forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all 
Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith. 

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the 
observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance;
 by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and 
meditating on God's holy Word.

Ashes, Ashes, 'Cause We All Fall Down

Ash Wednesday is a day in Western Christianity that marks the beginning of Lent. Christians keep the season of Lent by prayer, devotion, fasting and acts of charity. Ash Wednesday marks the 40 day period of preparation for the celebration of Holy Week and Easter. (Sundays are in Lent, but not counted as days of Lent)

On Ash Wednesday, the priest will take ashes, made by burning last year's palms from Palm Sunday, and gently marks the sign of the cross on the foreheads of the worshipers.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou
hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are
penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that
we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our
wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Crocheted With Love

Marlane Zeitz presents Bishop Frederick Fick with a prayer shawl at the MSJ Ohio Chapter meeting on Saturday.

Church Burnings In Tyler - Athens, Texas

Arsonists have set almost a dozen church buildings on fire over the past 6 weeks in Tyler and Athens, Texas. Federal ATF agents, local sheriffs and other authorities are working hard to both protect the area's churches but also to locate and apprehend the person(s) responsible.

We ask Christians everywhere to pray for an end to this violent and destructive behavior. We pray for the safety of Christians in the East Texas area and for the apprehension and arrest of the individuals involved. We pray their soul(s) and for the redemption of their lives.

St Luke the Physician, an MSJ parish is located in Tyler. Fr. Charles Matheny is the pastor. In Athens, TX, St. Stephen's parish is served by another MSJ priest, Fr. Jerry Pardue.

A Collect for Peace

O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in
knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service
is perfect freedom: Defend us, thy humble servants, in all
assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy
defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through
the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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
you; for the honor of thy Name. Amen.

MSJ February Calendar

Texas Chapter Meets

The Alamo

The Texas Chapter of the MSJ gathered for a weekend long gathering for prayer, homiletics studies, worship and fellowship. The Sunday morning eucharist at Holy Trinity, Hurst, the service included the baptism of two children and the confirmation of two adults.

Missionaries Indeed!!!

The St John youth, with their youth leaders Jeremiah and Kathryn Aberlich, sacrificed a portion of their Christmas holiday break to assist those less fortunate. They donated their time and energies to help sort food and supplies at the Gleaners Food Bank. Gleaners was founded in April of 1977, and it is one of the oldest food banks in the U.S. Its mission is “to turn surplus food, which otherwise would go to waste, into millions of nutritious meals for hungry people in southeastern Michigan..” It distributes more than 30 million pounds of food annually, the equivalent of 476,000 meals per month. We at St John are blessed to have young people not only aware of the struggle many are going through but who are willing to roll up their sleeves, and do the work needed to meet the need. Missionaries indeed!

MSJ Rule Of Life Published

As a Society goes about its life and work, a Rule develops and takes shape. The delegates to the General Assembly of Missionaries of St John, meeting in Hurst, Texas in October, approved the Rule of Life for the Society. A culmination of two years of work, the Rule now reflects the ordering our ministry and life together.

The Rule remains a work in progress as several articles require additional editing and review. . The lengthy document can be viewed at the main website, by going here: MSJ website

You Just Can't Beat A Good Children's Sunday School Christmas Program

St. John the Apostle, Clinton Township, MI Advent IV