Ice Storms In Kentucky

The nation heard about the ice storms that ravaged the mid-south this week, but seeing it first hand is incredible.  While we post some "pretty" photos here, we drove through Danville, Kentucky and the scene looked like a virtual war zone.  Because of the curfew and other law enforcement restrictions, we did not dawdle, but the destruction was beyond belief. Our prayers attend those thousands who are still without power and still with much work to do before life once again returns to normal.

MSJ Kentucky Gathering

The Missionaries of St John, Kentucky, will gather in Liberty Friday through Sunday for a weekend of encouragement, work and worship.  Christ Community Church-Anglican will host the activities.

Guests in the Kentucky area are invited to participate.  Call 586-264-6044 details and further information.

Church Development

In this valuable church leadership resource, Kevin Martin examines the five aspects of congregational life that are key to the development and growth of a strong congregation. Based on the author's popular church growth seminar, The Five Critical Systems, '5 Keys' distinguishes itself from other such resources with a focus on the 'systems' of congregational life rather than the 'programs' of congregational life.

- Build The Team

- Staying Healthy

- Paying Attention To The Generations

- Open The Front Door, Close The Back Door

- Raise The Stewardship Level

Canon Kevin Martin is the Church Development officer for the Diocese of Texas.

Prosperity Gospel Hits The Skids?

From Christianity Today:

Some of the high-flying icons of the prosperity gospel—the belief that God rewards signs of faith with wealth, health, and happiness—have run into financial turbulence.

Not all of their troubles can be blamed on the nation's economic crisis, say critics of the name-it-and-claim-it theology found in some churches.

Craig Blomberg, author of a 2001 study of prosperity theology, said he expects the movement to "take a small hit among those who recognize that it can't deliver on what it promises."

Read the rest here

Diocese Of The West Holds Clericus

The Diocese of the West (REC) meets in clericus this week at the Carmelite House in Napa Valley California.  Three days of reflection, prayer and teaching will enrich the days of the clergy who gather.  No doubt, some time will also be spent at local vintners.  Bishop Frederick Fick has been invited to be the primary presenter on the topic of sharing the faith and evangelization. 

 "Ancient Faith - New Generation".

Epiphany

The Twelve Days of Christmas now come to a glorious conclusion.  The Feast of Epiphany celebrates the visitation of the Magi.  Bearing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they enter the house where Jesus was with Mary his mother, and worship the Christ child.

O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son 

to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know thee now by faith, 

to thy presence, where we may behold thy glory face to face; 

through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, 

who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, 

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer

First Service Held At Hope Anglican - Oscoda

Fr. Thomas Anderson reports that the Christmas Eve service was well attended as worship once again was held in the old sanctuary.  

Christ Is Born

O God, because you once caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light, grant that we who have known the mystery of that Light here on earth may come to the full measure of its joys in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect For Christmas Eve

King's College, Cambridge Lesson and Carols

The BBC's Radio 4 will be broadcasting Lessons and Carols live from the Chapel of the King's College, Cambridge Christmas Eve [Wednesday], at 10 a.m. EST.

Your local public radio station will carry this event.

Tis The Season

You just can't beat a good old fashioned kids Christmas pageant! 

MSJ Patches

Fr Thomas Anderson has arranged for the production of MSJ patches for hats, jackets and other applications.  Drop Fr. Tom an email to order patches.  These can be ironed on and/or stitched.

tmediaguy at mac dot com

Two Last Photos

Hope Anglican- A Promise Kept

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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 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.

The Weekend's Progress At Hope Anglican, Oscoda

The Grouting Of The Tile Begins

The Tile Get Cleaned And Cleaned And Cleaned

 

Tomorrow, following mass, we hope to return the beautiful altar to its original place once again, hang the creedence shelf and offering shelves once again.  The altar rail is also original and likely dates from the 1880's as well.  The original pulpit in the same architectural style has also been perfectly preserved.

Is This A New Kind Of Biretta Or What?

The mystery deepens.

MSJ Ratifies The Jerusalem Declaration

One of the topics for study at the MSJ winter gathering was the Jerusalem Declaration.  Bishop Richard Boyce, an attendee in Jerusalem for the GAFCON meeting, brought us a first hand report.  The missioners carefully studied the Declaration and after considerable discussion have ratified the Jerusalem Declaration.

REC Bishop Royal Grote Makes A Call To The MSJ

Bp. Royal Grote of the Reformed Episcopal Church called the MSJ gathering on speaker phone to bring his greetings, to offer his prayers and to provide guidance and direction to the Missionary Society.  The MSJ unanimously approved a resolution to significantly deepen its relationship with the REC as we labor together in the "fields white unto harvest".   May God bless Bishop Grote in his pastoral care for us.

Fr Marc Wilson Leads A Scripture Study

Fr. Marc Wilson, of Jesus' Evengelical Mission, Los Lunas, N.M. led the gathering in an intense scripture study on the Biblical basis of our Anglican spirituality, repentance and humility.

Fr. Marc holds the S.T.M. from Nashotah House.

Fr. Marc and Bishop Boyce during one of the breaks.

Bishop Rick and Rachel Painter listen intently to the speaker phone call from +Royal Grote.  The Painter's minister at Christ The King Anglican Church, Phoenix, Arizona and we were so pleased to have them as our guests at the gathering.

Annual Winter Meeting

        Lunch is served!  

Bishop Boyce and Fr Moorehead Share A Moment

Diplomas And Licenses Are Awarded.   Congratulations!

The Eucharist Is Shared

Times Of Prayer

Reviewing Reports

Frs. Doubblestein, Gayer, and Lemmon study the provisional Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Church in North America

The Anglican Church in North America Is Born

 Photo from LA Times

The Common Cause Partnership today in Wheaton announced the provisional constitutions of the new province, called the Anglican Church in North America, has been approved unanimously by the governing bishop's executive council. The provisional constitution awaits the ratifying convention to be held in six months in Bedford Texas at St Vincent Cathedral. The new province also adopted 9 canons. The Anglican Church in North America already claims 700 commited parishes with 100,000 members in church on Sundays.

Gathering of Missioners

The annual gathering of the Missionary Society of St John is being held December 7-9, 18401 Canal Road, in Clinton Township, Michigan.  Bishop Richard Boyce will be our special guest.

The Society will review the Jerusalem Declaration of the GAFCON primates, discuss our membership in the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, and our place in the new North American province.

An opening Eucharist, with Bishop Frederick G. Fick celebrating, will be held on Monday morning, December 8, at 9 a.m.

For more guest registration and/or motel information, please call 586-264-6044

Grateful For The Beginning. Hopeful, But Not Quite Celebrating Yet

(PHOTO CREDIT: Kim Johnson)

Over at TexAnglican, M.B. Hwang writes about the Wheaton gathering:  

"For me, it was bittersweet. Anticipation - and watching it unfold - is a complex emotion. I am simultaneously amazed by the unity and dismayed by the difficulties in maintaining healthy diversity that still lie ahead, glad that a long-awaited future is taking shape and sad for the pain of the reality of divisions, relieved but also aware that our detractors are watching, appreciative of an obviously thoughtfully organized event bit also unmoved by the style of worship and approach to liturgy. In short, I feel that this is a time for hope and endurance but not exultation or relaxation, so I suppose my greatest difficulty with the service was that it felt so insistently celebratory to me."

 

On the eve of the Wheaton gathering, TexAnglican wrote:

"...  it seems clear that the December 3rd meeting will not actually "launch" the new province. It will, instead, present what its framers intend for it to become once its new constitution is ratified by member ecclesiastical entities.

This actually makes sense, in light of the fact that the diocesan conventions (or equivalents) of each of the member dioceses and ecclesiastical bodies will surely have to ratify the proposed constitution individually before they will officially become members of such a new provincial structure. The CCP's leaders seem to be following the course taken in adopting the U.S. Constitution. It was proposed and debated for months before the individual states ratified it one-by-one and it went into effect."

Add to these two observations the biggest concern of all, the differing positions on catholic faith and order, especially as it relates to the ordination of women to the priesthood,  I reply now to that oft asked question, "So, how do you feel about the new province, the ACNA?"   

My honest answer is this.  It was an honor to be in Wheaton for the gathering and to sign the Jerusalem declaration. I am hopeful.  The gathering demonstrated reason for hopefulness, but is premature for unrestrained celebration. 

As M. B. Hwang said, "I feel that this is a time for hope and endurance but not exultation or relaxation".  Amen.  Well put.

 +Frederick G. Fick

Anglicans Chant The Weather Forecast

If you wouldn't know Anglican Chant from a good polka or the latest rap song, this likely would merely cause you to ask, "Are you sure this is humorous?".   But, we thought this was hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z2jwDcb9wI

MSJ Delegation Signs Jerusalem Declaration

Father Francis Wardega


Father Michael Orr


Father Terry Moore


Bishop Frederick Fick

From Jerusalem To Wheaton

It is 4 a.m. and four MSJs are scurrying from their beds, to embrace the cold, dark morning and the long drive to Wheaton, Illinois.  The promise of GAFcon, meeting in Jerusalem last summer now comes to North America.  "See the morning, see it rising".

A day of hope and possibilities dawns.