The Rector's Desk

This is truly a dedicated Altar Guild volunteer!

2012-02-01T11:35:00.004-05:00

Our Altar Guild Director brushing the teeth of St. Francis.

Samaritan Outreach Dinner and Auction on 1-31-12

2012-01-19T11:24:00.001-05:00

The Samaritan Outreach Dinner and Auction is taking place at the Bradenton Yacht Club on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. The price is $30 per person. Donations for the auction can still be given and should be brought either to the Christ Church Thrift Shop or the Parish Office. Tickets are on sale from any Samaritan Outreach Committee member or can be obtained in the Parish Office.

Barbara and I are really looking forward to attending this event and genuinely hope to see you there!

Grace and peace,

Joel+

I want a merrier world!

2011-12-22T09:23:00.001-05:00

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."

- J.R.R. Tolkien

Holy Night in Advent.

2011-12-19T21:38:00.005-05:00

There is a song by Swedish soprano Anne Sofie von Mutter on her album Home for Christmas that is beautiful and so wonderful for the Advent season. I encourage you to pick up the song off iTunes, on a CD, or wherever you buy your music these days. It is moving.

Here are the lyrics:

Koppängen – Holy Night

There is a silence around me

In the peaceful winter night.

From the church down in the valley

I can see the candlelight

And I stopped for a moment

in this winter paradise

when I heard a choir singing

through the darkness and the ice.

And the rays from the lights behind

the window’s vaulted frames

have united the souls in hope

that something great is waiting.

And I know that those who have left us here

had the same thoughts as I.

We’re like flames in the darkness

and the stars up in the sky.

And I can see that they sparkle,

and they fade before my eyes,

and the truth is coming closer

like a wonder in disguise.

We are caught here a moment

like an imprint of a hand

on an old and frosted window

or a footprint in the sand.

For a while I am eternal –

That’s the only thing I know,

I am here and we share our dreams

about our destination.

It is cold here, the snow is white

but I am warm deep inside,

I am warm because I know that

my faith will be my guide.

Now there is silence around me,

I have heard those words again

in a hymn of grace and glory,

saying: nothing is in vain!

I can sing – and I believe it,

Let the message reach the sky.

Oh silent night,

let your promise never die!

And I long for the others,

it is peaceful in the church.

He was born for a purpose,

and that’s why we are here together.

Holy night, I feel like a child inside,

and believe he was sent.

So I’m lighting a candle

each Sunday in Advent.

A quote from John Wesley

2011-11-21T16:28:00.002-05:00

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

Shrinking Jesus and Betraying the Faith

2011-11-16T13:42:00.007-05:00

Shrinking Jesus and Betraying the Faith

The following article was authored by the Rt. Rev. C. FitzSimons Allison, XII Bishop of South Carolina, Retired and appeared originally on the Diocese of South Carolina webpage. I am submitting it here with their permission.

What caused the crisis now being faced not only by the Diocese of South Carolina but by the entire western Christian Church? It’s more than an issue of sexuality. It’s one of pandering to the secular culture, of shrinking Jesus and betraying the faith.

Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan are two remarkably popular theologians who teach a version of Christianity that reduces the Christian faith to contemporary secular assumptions. For Crossan, Jesus was an illiterate Jewish cynic. No Incarnation no Resurrection. The Easter story is “fictional mythology” (p. 161, Jesus a Revolutionary Biography). Borg claims that Jesus was only divine in the sense that Martin Luther King and Gandhi were divine. Borg dismisses the creeds (p.10, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time) Jesus was a “spirit person,” “a mediator of the sacred,” “a shaman,” one of those persons like Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Mohammed, et al. (p. 32)

Recently Borg and Crossan have collaborated on a book, The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’ Final Days in Jerusalem. Their Jesus is a semi-revolutionary leader of peasants and outcasts against the priestly elite and those who accommodate to the dominant system of Roman coercive authority. It was not our sinful condition that demanded his crucifixion but this elite. Borg and Crossan’s Jesus does not come from God to take away sin but arose from among the innocent to teach us how not to be a part of the dominant systems. They fail to understand the depth of sin in all of us at all times, including peasants, as well as the elite. More importantly they lose the assurance of ultimate mercy and forgiveness.

Speaking of elites these two “scholarly authorities” purport to tell us, “What the Gospels Really Teach about Jesus.” They pander to an increasingly secular culture and to the human itch to find some undemanding simplicity that now finally explains everything. And they do this while ignoring, and without reference to, the multitude of superior contemporary scholars such as Richard Bauckham, Raymond Brown, Luke Timothy Johnson, N. T. Wright, Richard Hays, Leander Keck, Christopher Bryan, and scores of others whose works reflect the faith of scripture and the creeds.In addition to the academic arrogance of claiming that everyone has been wrong about Jesus until now, Marcus Borg, who is a member of the Episcopal Church, denies, in his writings, the creeds and doctrine he affirmed at his confirmation and in his present worship. It is the same moral issue as that of Bishop Jack Spong who was asked by one of his clergy, “How can you, as a bishop, ask those you ordain to swear to doctrine that you expressly and personally deny?” Crossan, on the other hand, showed some moral integrity when he resigned his Roman Catholic orders. These are not times when people readily think in terms of doctrine or of honor.

Christian faith, but not secular faith, now effectively banned from schools, colleges, and universities, has been relegated to the private and subjective arena. The result is the growing popularity of any who eliminate from Christian faith all that secular trust finds incompatible: miracles, the radical nature of sin and the consequent radical nature of grace, transcendence, holiness, and our human desperate need for God’s initiative action in Jesus.

The consequence of this secular replacement of Christianity over the years is that otherwise educated people can be bereft of any substantial grasp of scripture. One glaring example is Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori who tells us that Marcus Borg “opened the Bible to me.” (Acknowledgements A Wing and a Prayer). The Christian creed’s affirmation, to which she has repeatedly sworn, (but Borg negates) is that Jesus Christ is:

“the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made . . .”

Borg has not opened the scripture for Bishop Jefferts Schori but closed its revelation of Jesus’ divinity.

One must ask how such apostasy has come about in the Episcopal Church. One answer is given by the new bishop of Connecticut, Ian Douglas. He accurately claims,” The Episcopal Church does not readily think in terms of doctrine.” As one thinks carefully about this statement the spiritual pathology of TEC becomes apparent.

Doctrine is “that which is taught, what is held, put forth as true” (Webster). Doctrine is a synonym for teaching. When we “do not readily think in terms of doctrine” we are unaware and ignorant of Christian teaching. This is true of both “liberals” and “conservatives.” We were warned in scripture about losing our grasp on doctrine and the danger of false doctrine; (“. . . so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by cunning men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles.” Eph. 4:14 (see also Titus 2:;7, I Tim. 1:3, and 4:16, II John 10, II Tim. 3:16, 4:2)

Bishop Douglas’s statement, however, is only true of Christian doctrine. The Episcopal Church does indeed think in terms of doctrine: doctrines of litigation, abortion, divorce, sexual behavior outside of marriage and all kinds of current politically correct doctrines, as well as teachings that Jesus is reduced from the Son of God to a “subversive sage.” (p. 119, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time)

The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church personifies this sad reduction, this shrunken Jesus, this betrayal of Christian faith. Her claim that “salvation is attained by many ways – Jesus Christ is a way, and God has many other ways as well. . .”(italics provided) (Interview, Time Magazine, July 10, 2006) is a violation of her ordination and consecration vows regarding the church’s creed (p. 519, Book of Common Prayer, , 1979). It is also sadly bereft of the Good News that salvation is never attained but freely given to those who believe. As to her belief in eternal life, she is unsure it exists and she contends that Jesus was more concerned with heavenly existence in this life. (Arkansas Democratic Gazette, Jan. 7, 2007)

This sad result reduces Christian faith to the secular assumptions of this age while this age is in desperate need of the very faith that has made it great. Dean William Inge’s famous warning has never been more apt than today: “The Church that marries the spirit of the age will find herself a widow in the next.” We thank God that the leadership of this diocese not only thinks in terms of Christian doctrine but is courageously committed to the sworn faith of scripture and creeds.

When Episcopalians do not think in terms of Christian doctrine they consciously and unconsciously conform to speculations of the current age. When the creedal and biblical affirmations of Jesus’ full humanity and divinity are given up we lose the promised assurance of God’s mercy. The sad secular substitute for divine mercy is a culture destroying permissiveness, lowered standards of morality in society, and diminishing honor in human character. Permissiveness is no substitute for mercy.Let’s be clear – the doctrine of Borg, Crossan, and Jefferts Schori makes nonsense of the Eucharist:

"Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world." (p.362 Book of Common Prayer 1979)

The doctrine of “mere man” (like Martin Luther King and Gandhi) is indeed a widespread heresy in modern times but finds no reflection in any of the major heresies. It was so rare that only a specialist is apt to know its name: psilantropism. One of the outstanding contemporary scholars, Timothy George, has this to say about heresy:

"Heresy is a deliberate perversion, a choice (hairesis in Greek), to break with the primary pattern of Christian truth and to promulgate a doctrine that undermines the gospel and destroys the unity of the Christian Church. A Church that cannot distinguish heresy from truth, or, even worse, a Church that no longer thinks this is worth doing, is a Church which has lost its right to bear witness to the transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ who declared himself to be not only the Way and the Life, but also the Truth."

Rest assured the Bishop and Diocese of South Carolina, in the face of heretical assault on the Church will be faithful to the “one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all.” The challenge for us at this time is the opportunity to recover the neglected duty of “thinking in terms of doctrine” and to show the cruelty of heresy and declare the Gospel good news of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.

A Bad Marriage

2011-11-15T15:50:00.004-05:00

Dean William Inge’s famous warning is very appropriate today: “The Church that marries the spirit of the age will find herself a widow in the next.”

A Prayer of St. Francis

2011-10-07T09:34:00.006-04:00

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

9-11

2011-09-11T06:26:00.002-04:00

Remember September 11, 2001. God Bless the USA!

September Chi Rho Article

2011-09-01T14:43:00.002-04:00

As I write this article I have just returned home from the second fellowship gathering of Christ Church members in two days. I am not even including the fun and fellowship of Rally Sunday with the blessing of our Sunday School teachers and children. That was wonderful as well.

Returning to my theme, though, Barbara and I attended the final summer Foyer Group which was an Italian Night at the home of Mark and Marlene Seese. We had great homemade Italian food and great conversations. The Rally Sunday Family Picnic & Pizza Party hosted at the home of Wylene and Angus Graham was another hit! With families from every service at Christ Church represented, the shared food and fellowship was amazing. It was fun seeing people from all three services gather and in some cases meet for the first time. The children seemed be having as much fun as their elders. I was struck by the fact that fellowship is a crucial part of our Christian lives. We gather for worship, prayer, bible study and other occasions. These are very important events in our Christian lives but fun and fellowship are necessary as well. Actually, I would go so far as to say that fun and fellowship are required of all Christians. Jesus attended the social events and had fun so why shouldn’t we? Jesus would say we should. After all, he changed the water into wine for the Wedding Feast at Cana in Galilee. Being a follower of Jesus Christ needn’t be boring.

As we see the Sunday School program starting up, I hope everyone is as excited as I am that we are launching into our program year. Schools are now open. In a few short weeks, our winter members will begin to return as well. This is a time when you may be thinking about joining one of our current ministries or it may be a time in which you want to commence a new ministry. In either case, get started. Give me a call if you have a program that you are interested in helping or in starting. I’d love to hear from you. Hooray for September and hooray for our Fall Season of new activity!

Boundaries

2011-08-01T23:55:00.002-04:00

One canon reduced to writing by God Himself,
two testaments,
three creeds,
four general councils,
five centuries and the series of fathers in that period, the three centuries
that is before Constantine, and two after
determine the boundary of our faith.

– Lancelot Andrewes, Opuscula Quaedam Posthuma

Not Exactly a Three-Legged Stool

2011-07-25T07:31:00.003-04:00

“What Scripture doth plainly deliver, to that the first place credit and obedience is due; the next whereunto is whatsoever any man can necessarily conclude by force of reason; after these the voice of the Church succeedeth.” – Richard Hooker, The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, Book V, chapter 8, section 2.

Walking in the Light

2011-07-20T15:23:00.004-04:00

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:5-9

Independence Day Collect

2011-07-03T18:39:00.002-04:00

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ezekiel 33:11

2011-06-06T10:34:00.001-04:00

As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.

Summer in Florida

2011-06-02T10:25:00.001-04:00

“Summer time and the livin’ is easy . . .” Perhaps you may recall that song from the Gershwin musical Porgy and Bess. Summertime here at Christ Church is always quieter because our Canadian and Northern visitors return to their homes. Also many of our local families have cottages in the Southern mountains or take extended vacations. This summer I am taking a vacation from the Wednesday Rector’s Bible Study. That class will resume on September 7 and our Wednesday evening dinners are scheduled to return in October. While Children’s Sunday School is off for the summer, we will have Vacation Bible School from August 7-13. We also close the Church Office on Fridays after 2:00 pm.

In fact to maintain continuity, we actually keep pretty much to our normal schedule in summer with the exceptions noted above. The easy living of summer should not cause us to become slack in our devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you are home, remember all of the services continue at their regular times and that includes our weekday services. If you are traveling remember Sundays are still church days. Visit the Episcopal or another church where you are and find out how they do things. If you get an interesting or useful idea from them; contact our Evangelism Committee with the idea.

With summer’s slower pace it is also a good time to begin a daily bible study and prayer regimen. If you have a Book of Common Prayer, you can use the Daily Office Lectionary and Morning or Evening Prayer as a guide for reading and praying. If you need advice on how to proceed call me or the Center for Spiritual Development ladies and we will help you.

Finally, remember to thank God for the wonderful place we live, for our great parish family, for our beautiful parish home, for all the blessings of this life but especially for sending his son, Jesus Christ, so that all of us might be saved if we believe in him.

A profound coincidence for some but not for others . . .

2011-04-09T20:02:00.008-04:00

In certain circles there has been a lot of sound and fury (see Macbeth's soliloquy in act 5, scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Macbeth) over the fact the Earth Day 2011 and Good Friday 2011 fall on Friday, April 22.

The TEC website says:

“This year, Earth Day falls on Good Friday - a profound coincidence. On the day we mark the crucifixion of Christ, let us remember that when Earth is degraded and species go extinct, a part of God's body experiences a different type of crucifixion, and another way of seeing and experiencing God is diminished.

To fully honor Earth Day, we need to reclaim the theology that knows Earth is "very good" and holy. When we fully recognize this, our actions will create a more sustainable, compassionate economy and way of life.”

Obviously, the coincidence is not particularly “profound” if one understands the actual definition of the word. However, it is a coincidence.

I will not diminish the importance of Earth Day. We are stewards of God’s Creation so we need to be aware of the harm we do to the earth. But the earth is not a part of God as the statement from TEC seems to imply. We understand that God created all of creation that includes the earth. The earth is a created being or in older terms a creature. Jesus was present at creation as was the Holy Spirit as co-persons of the Holy Trinity. God has no body except that which Jesus incarnated during his walk upon the earth.

Again, Christians need to be good stewards and Earth Day is an important secular remembrance but compared to the truly profound mystery of Good Friday as part of God’s great plan for human redemption through Jesus Christ, Good Friday clearly trumps any other competing day of secular concern.

Good Friday is one of two days of obligation in the Christian calendar year. It is the day on which Christians contemplate the actual death of Jesus Christ – the death of God. It is a profound mystery. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that all who believe in him might have everlasting life! (John 3:16)

God gave of God’s self that all humankind and all creation might be redeemed. That is just a way bigger deal than Earth Day for believers. That is a profound thought!

Lent

2011-02-23T17:12:00.002-05:00

The season of Lent is rapidly coming upon us! We all love attending our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner presented by our youth group. It is a time of good food, fellowship and general goofiness with the pancake races. This meal reflects an old English tradition of using up various kitchen products in preparation for the customary Lenten fast. It was seen much like Mardi Gras as a demarcation point between the seasons of Epiphany and Lent.

While it is exactly that, I think many people have an unnecessarily negative view of the season of the church year. Lent does not have to be a trial. It should be a joy. I do not recommend Lent to be a time of radical and wrenching changes to one’s life. We all need to have an ongoing repentance but it is a little odd to see this in negative terms. As Christians we do need to make amendment for the wrongs we have done but this is not onerous to us because we know the Good News. Jesus Christ has atoned for our sins when we confess them. His saving action allows God to see us not as we are in our sinfulness, rather, when we repent, God sees us as God sees Jesus Christ. Our ongoing life as Christians is a journey sharing in the hope that is within us. In this journey, we are on a path to God the Father. Jesus travels with us, as does the Holy Spirit. When we actively call upon the Holy Spirit to assist us our path of sanctification is made easier by the power of God enabling us to live more and more into the life that God has called us. We actually begin to live in heaven now and not at some future time.

So Lent can be a time of joy. It can be joyful when we succeed in living into heaven now by cooperating with the Holy Spirit. But looked upon properly, it can be joy as well even as we repent for our daily errors knowing that God loves us and forgives us as long as we continue diligently on the path set before us in our journey with Jesus Christ and through the influence of the Holy Spirit. Happy Lent!

When is the information age really something else?

2010-11-22T11:01:00.005-05:00

Last Friday, November 19, a so-called news and information source on the internet published the following in their news of the day:

"From the Diocese of SW Florida and its Bishop Dabney Smith comes word that once a survey has been completed, the diocese will permit liturgies for same-sex blessings. Bishop Smith voted 'yes' on the 2009 GC resolution to explore the development of same-sex liturgies. This should come as no surprise really, but it should signal the beginning of the end for Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals still in the diocese. Quoth Smith, 'The GC resolution asks us to look at material for the blessing of same-gender couples. Thus, that is the language all of our materials will use. We also recognize that there are places where same-gender couples can be married or have a civil-union; and that there are broad concerns throughout the church about blessing same-gender couples.' "

That sounds like regular reporting, except that there was NO SURVEY and Bishop Smith never said any of those words attributed to him. On Saturday, I was in Diocesan Council with him and he informed council that the "news story" was untrue. I would call it a complete fabrication.

The warning here is clear enough: be sure to verify all internet "news" stories prior to sharing them as if they were actual news.

St. Francis Day Pet Blessing

2010-10-04T07:06:00.006-04:00

New Beginnings

2010-09-01T09:01:00.002-04:00

Every fall is a time of new beginnings here at Christ Church. That is especially true this year. Our Sunday School classes begin the first week of September. We also begin a new Adult Formation classes this fall. Dr. Robert Baker will be teaching a class on the Johannine literature with an emphasis on the First Epistle of John. I hope this class will be well attended because our Christian understanding that God is love comes from John’s letters.

Another new beginning in October is the opening of our Center for Spiritual Development which will be staffed by Mary Buonagura and Carlene Kertesz. Each of these ladies has a Masters degree in theology and each has special expertise to complement each other and the Rector in spiritual and pastoral matters. The Center will initially be open for walk-ins or scheduled appointments for twenty hours each week. The Center will offer confidential guidance, direction and support for the various challenges we all face in our life's journey. It will be a professional, yet warm and friendly atmosphere where you may seek prayerful and confidential encouragement, as well as counseling and reassurance of God's love and care for each individual.

The Center for Spiritual Development is a place to receive Christian love and assistance in meeting the daily challenges of our Christian journey. At the Center parishioners may find answers, direction, more questions, and maybe even miracles. The Center is a safe place – a place where we can walk and talk with fellow Christians on our journey. My sincere hope is the Center for Spiritual Development will be a place to truly fulfill the two Great Commandments: “Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27.)

The last of our new beginnings involves another new lay volunteer who has stepped up in mission and ministry. That is Megan Chatham who is our new Coordinator of Small Groups. Megan is not exactly new to Christ Church since she grew up here. She has returned with some exciting experience in having been a small group ministry person in a number of churches around the nation. She will be assisting our Faith Families and facilitating the start of several new small groups in the next few months.

I am truly excited in seeing all these talented people stepping up to volunteer here at Christ Church. When you see them, say hello and thank them for their ministries. Also, please remember them in your prayers.

On Vacation - Tarpon Fishing 2010

2010-07-24T10:17:00.001-04:00

Trinity Sunday

2010-05-31T00:20:00.002-04:00

This is what I do on my day off.

2010-04-26T14:00:00.003-04:00

Jay Crouse from our Diocesan Men's Ministries and I fished Charlotte Harbor successfully for redfish and seatrout.

Christ Church Softball Team

2010-04-21T08:22:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to the Christ Church softball team. They made the playoffs! It is a good looking group, isn't it?

Bishop's Visitation 2010

2010-04-18T21:32:00.004-04:00

Easter Vigil 2010

2010-04-06T09:14:00.005-04:00

Palm Sunday

2010-03-30T13:35:00.004-04:00

Holy Week 2010

2010-03-27T11:06:00.002-04:00

Holy Week begins!

This year our Holy Week celebrations begin with Palm Sunday on March 28. At the 7:30 and 11:00 AM services, we begin the Liturgy of the Palms at the back of the Nave and then process into the church. At the 9:00 AM service, we will gather in the courtyard for the Liturgy of the Palms then we will process to the Nave to complete the Liturgy.

On Monday and Tuesday (March 28-29), we will have Evening Prayer at 6:30 PM in the Chapel. Fr. Eric and I will lead these services.

On Wednesday, March 31 at 6:30 PM we will celebrate a service of Holy Communion with Heal¬ing in the Chapel. This service allows those attending the opportunity to pray for healing for themselves or others. Prayer can be for physical, mental or spiritual healing.

Immediately following that service Fr. Eric and I will lead a class on the remainder of Holy Week and the Triduum, the continuous Liturgy that commences on Maundy Thursday. The significance of every service will be explained. The parish youth will have also set up Stations of the Cross in the Education Wing and Parish Hall that can be walked through over the next four days.

On April 1 at 7:00 PM we will celebrate Maundy Thursday. This is a solemn and beautiful re¬membrance of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples and the Last Supper. The service is a Holy Communion that concludes with the Stripping of the Altar and the setting aside of an Altar of Repose in the Chapel. The Altar of Repose represents Jesus at Gethsemane where he said to his disciples, “Could you not watch with me one hour?” (Matthew 26:40.) It is traditional for parish members to take one-hour vigil watches with the reserved Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood until the Stations of the Cross at noonday on Friday. A sign-up sheet will be available in the office and in the Narthex to volunteer for this.

Good Friday is April 2 and has two distinct services. First at 12:00 noon there will be a Special Liturgy of the Stations of the Cross led by Fr. Eric. We will meet in the Courtyard outside the Nave and process around our entire church grounds. Immediately following the Stations there will be a time of meditation on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Dr. Richard Benedum will do a brief recital of sacred and solemn music during this time. At 7:00 PM we will have our Good Friday Liturgy, a somber and penitent Liturgy of the Word with the Passion Narrative. We do not have Holy Communion on Good Friday since we are recalling the death and absence of Christ in the world during this time.

Holy Saturday is April 3. It is customary for the parish priest to be available on that morning to hear the Confessions of Penitents. Fr. Eric and I will be available to hear confessions in the Chapel from 9:00 AM until noon. At 12:00 noon, we will have a brief Liturgy of the Word in the Chapel.

On Saturday evening at 8:00 PM we will begin our Easter Vigil. This is the first Communion of Easter. The Vigil itself is a rehearsal of salvation history and ends with the lively celebration of the Res¬urrection of Jesus Christ. This is my favorite service of the entire church year. I encourage you to participate in this ancient custom of the Church.

Easter Sunday morning (April 4), we will have music at all services. Easter Day is a wonderful time of reunion, as many who may not have attended church recently will be present for this service. Let's welcome these visitors graciously in the risen Christ’s Name.

Annual Meeting Sermon

2010-01-27T21:28:00.006-05:00

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

We cannot exist, really exist, without some form and for us, individually, that form is the human body. Without my body I am nobody! Likewise to be a Christian, I must be a part of a body as well as have a body of my own.

In Corinthians, Paul reminds us that we are more than just our own bodies. We are part of something greater than ourselves. We are, all Christians are, part of the Body of Christ, the Church.

Bodies are interesting things. If a body does not work together, the individual parts are imperiled. In fact if an individual part begins to really work against the body as a whole there are really only two choices, the part must be fixed or it must be removed. The best choice is to correct a problem by the least invasive and least radical means. So when we have a headache we generally turn to medication rather than decapitation!

Paul is saying the individual Christian must, as a part of the whole body, subordinate themselves to the whole body. The parts are not greater than the whole. In the act of subordination, the individual does not lose his or her individuality. We are the hands, the eyes, the ears of Christ in the world today. This is because Jesus is NOT physically present in the world but we are. As Christians we must function on Christ’s behalf in the world. We do not do this merely as individuals but as part of a larger body.

This notion of actual participation in Christ through our corporate function is one of the great ideas of Christianity. The church in Corinth was very troubled, perhaps not unlike any church today. Paul is trying to exhort the Corinthians to return to a proper way of living their lives together in Christ.

Today, we will have the annual meeting of our parish. This parish is part of the Church or as I said earlier the Body of Christ. In this meeting we will elect new members to the vestry, we will thank outgoing members and we will discuss our budget for 2010.

I want you, as members of Christ Church, to understand how things are with our body. So, I am going to tell you some very hard facts now about our situation. Everyone knows that the last couple of years have been difficult everywhere in our national economy and that is especially true here in Florida. Many have faced income and even job loss.

Last year, we cut every single clergy and staff salary. Let me repeat – every person had salary cuts. Some had their hours cut and some positions were eliminated. We also cut every place we could in all of our operating expenses. Thus at the end of 2009 we did not exceed our very spare budget.

We had hoped that our pledge campaign for 2010 would see an increase. As of this moment, despite having many new pledges, that has not happened.

In preparing our budget for this year we had hoped to rehire some of the staff we had lost. We hoped to restore lost program and operating dollars. But we could not do this. In preparing the budget you will see at the annual meeting, we had to again cut salaries and positions. Every staff member will have new cuts over and against the cuts from last year. That means that clergy, office staff – everyone – again will make less and have to do more.

We are consolidating the positions of youth minister and Sunday school director. Lynda Botzenhart will assume all those duties at the end of May. Kim Stadlin will be reduced to very limited hours and will then leave our staff at the end of May. We have no budget money for any new programs or even emergency needs should they arise. Every single clergy and staff member will have to do more with less. This is hard information to hear.

Perhaps you are wondering what can be done. I will suggest something to each and every one of us. Can we – you and I – reflect on whether to change the direction of the parish’s financial situation and reassess our giving? Am I giving enough to help with expenses?

Am I freely and joyfully giving to my parish family in this time of need?
I know in the past that some have withheld giving for a variety of reasons. If this parish is important to you as a place to worship, to study, to have fellowship and share Christ then isn’t this a time to support this place and forget past grievances? I do not think we can afford to cut any more staff or salaries and expect to do the mission and ministry that Christ has called us to do.

Do you value the Bible studies, the preaching, the teaching, Sunday school, pastoral visitation, VBS, youth group? These and many other things are provided by the staff and clergy of our parish.

I ask you, and the staff and vestry ask you, to pledge if you have not pledged, to increase you pledge if you have pledged. Your clergy also appeals to everyone here present to join with us in tithing (giving 10% of your income) to the parish. These are difficult times but difficult times pass. We need to keep spreading the Gospel even in the hard times knowing we have eternal glory ahead of us.

We are One Body. As one body we need to use all that God has given us to continue sustaining the Body of Christ in the world.

If in love, we receive the gifts God has given us, then there is only one way to exercise the use of these gifts. We will not use the gifts just for our individual benefit. No, we will use the gifts in love and for the benefit of Christ’s Body, the Church.

To be somebody we have to have a body. As Christians, our Body is one another in Christ. And we are to exercise our spiritual gifts with one another in love, as Christ loved us!

Annual Meeting - 2010

2010-01-26T14:35:00.012-05:00

We had our Annual Meeting for Christ Church this last Sunday. It was a lively combined service with blended worship from all three of our regular Sunday services. I will post my sermon from that service tomorrow.

We elected four new members to the Vestry: Janet Argeros, Wylene Graham, Buz Zoller and Janet Welch. We also elected two new alternates: David Leslie and Kevin Oden. Christ Church is fortunate that we have so many people willing to run for and serve on Vestry. We said a sad farewell to outgoing Vestry members: Bob Clay, Candy Stott Holt and Linda Norris. They will be missed.

Book Report

2010-01-22T08:39:00.002-05:00

I have just finished reading Rodney Stark's God's Battalions. I had read Stark's The Rise of Christianity years ago and enjoyed it very much. In this volume, Stark takes a careful look at the Crusades in light of the various historical and hysterical claims about them. I feel that Stark is one of the first authors in recent memory who takes an unbiased view of the actual events. I strongly recommend this book.

Sunday Class

2009-10-27T09:30:00.008-04:00

Last Sunday several of the Sunday School classes visited with me in the sanctuary between services. I had the opprotunity to explain about the altar and its furnishings with them. We also discussed the church year, the colors used and manual acts such as the Sign of the Cross. They seemed to enjoy our little get together.

Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. (John 21:3, KJV)

2009-09-03T14:09:00.005-04:00

Even priests take shorts vacations occasionally and so it is with me. I was asked by a parishioner, David Leslie, to join him for a day of fishing. We were joined by my predecessor here at Christ Church, Father Dennis Kezar. We meet in nearby Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island to go fishing with Captain Todd Romine.

If you have followed my blog, you may know that I am primarily a fly fisherman. I grew up fishing for trout in the Midwest and eventually moved to Tennessee where I focused on fishing the Smoky Mountains with dry flies for native trout. I was a little like the author, Norman MacLean, who wrote the following in his book A River Runs Through It:

In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing. We lived at the junction of great trout rivers in western Montana, and our father was a Presbyterian minister and a fly fisherman who tied his own flies and taught others. He told us about Christ's disciples being fishermen, and we were left to assume, as my brother and I did, that all first-class fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were fly fishermen and that John, the favorite, was a dry-fly fisherman.

I haven’t fished with bait for thirty years. However, this is Florida and this is a guide who specializes in bait fishing so who am I to be particular. Plus, I thought it might be fun to broaden my horizons. Talking with the Captain prior to the arrival of my host, David, and my fellow priest, Dennis, I realized this would be a fun learning experience. Hey, I like catching fish.

The very first thing we had to do was catch our bait. This was expertly managed by our Captain with two tosses of his cast-net. I believe Saint Peter would have been impressed. Captain Todd pulled in what appeared to be about a thousand whitebait minnows. At the time, I couldn’t imagine how we would ever use them. That’s why he is the guide and I’m the priest.

To make a long story short, we hammered the redfish. We must have caught around 50 or more. I need to be clear that we kept only four for the boat. Every fish, except those four, was hooked in the corner of the mouth and released unharmed due to a fancy hook called a circle hook. Very slick, very cool.

When the redfish thinned out we caught seatrout, grouper and other sundry fish. The whole day was a wonderful time. David and Dennis certainly out fished me but I had a great time nonetheless. I will have to do this again. Remember Jesus hung out with fishermen so why shouldn’t I? Grace and peace.

The Communion Partner Rectors’ Statement

2009-07-28T07:18:00.003-04:00

July 22, 2009

We, the undersigned clergy in good standing in the Episcopal Church welcome and declare our appreciation for the witness of the bishops who signed the minority statement read in the House of Bishops in Anaheim, California on Thursday, July 16, 2009. We also express our on-going support for all the reaffirmations listed in that document, which read as follows:

We reaffirm our constituent membership in the Anglican Communion, our communion with the See of Canterbury and our commitment to preserving these relationships.
We reaffirm our commitment to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this church has received them (BCP 526, 538).
We reaffirm our commitment to the three moratoria requested of us by the instruments of Communion.
We reaffirm our commitment to the Anglican Communion Covenant process currently underway, with the hope of working toward its implementation across the Communion once a Covenant is completed.

We reaffirm our commitment to “continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship” which is foundational to our baptismal covenant, and to be one with the apostles in “interpreting the Gospel” which is essential to our work as bishops of the Church of God.

We are committed along with said bishops to be a positive force for the spread of God’s Kingdom in this world; to pray for Christ’s Body, the Church, the Anglican Communion, The Episcopal Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury, all bishops and other ministers. We hold that as Christ’s Body, the Church is to be a “pillar and buttress of truth,” (1 Timothy 3:15) through which the Gospel is held high in witness and proclamation, and we pray for the reconciliation of all humankind through the saving life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.

For more information about the Communion Partner Rectors, contact CPRectors@stmartinsepiscopal.org

The Rev. Dr. Charles Alley
Rector, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
Richmond, Virginia

The Rev. Christopher L. Ashmore
Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church
Jacksonville, Illinois

The Rev. John D. Badders, Jr.
Rector, St. John’s Episcopal Church
McAllen, Texas

The Rev. Phyllis Bartle
Rector, St. Jude’s Episcopal Church
Orange City, Florida

The Rev. Milton E. Black, Jr.
Rector, Church of the Good Shepherd
Corpus Christi, Texas

The Rev. Christopher Andrew Bowhay
Rector, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church
Houston, Texas

The Rt. Rev. Anthony J. Burton
Rector, Church of the Incarnation
Dallas, Texas

The Rev. William J. Cavanaugh
Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany
Richardson, Texas

The Very Reverend Anthony Clark
Dean, The Cathedral Church of St. Luke
Orlando, Florida

The Rev. Anthony F. M. Clavier
Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
La Porte, Indiana

The Rev. C. Carter Croft
Rector, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
Silver City, New Mexico

The Rev. Joseph N. Davis
Rector, Church of the Resurrection
Franklin, Tennessee

The Very Rev. Canon Richard C. Doscher, Sr.
Rector, St. Alfred’s Episcopal Church
Palm Harbor, Florida

The Rev. Mifflin Dove, Jr.
Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Katy, Texas

The Rev. Robert G. Eaton
Rector, St. John’s Episcopal Church
Tulare, California

The Rev. Theodore W. Edwards, Jr.
Rector, St. George’s Episcopal Church
Bradenton, Florida

The Rev. Richard H. Elwood
Retired Rector, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
Fredericksburg, Texas

The Rev. Frank E. Fuller
Rector, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Beaumont, Texas

The Rev. Ronald E. Greiser, Jr.
Rector, St. John’s Episcopal Church
Portsmouth, Virginia

The Rev. Laurens A. Hall
Rector, St. John the Divine
Houston¸ Texas

The Rev. John F. Hardie
Rector, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Corpus Christi, Texas

The Rev. Theodore E. Hervey, Jr.
Rector, Epiphany Episcopal Church
Burnet, Texas

The Rev. John M. Himes, OSF
Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church
Marshall, Texas

The Rev. Charles L. Holt
Rector, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Lake Mary, Florida

The Rev. Robert Horowitz
Rector, Church of the Redeemer
Greenville, South Carolina

The Rev. Thomas S. Hotchkiss
Rector, Church of The Advent
Nashville, Tennessee

The Rev. Robert T. Jennings
Rector, St. Francis in the Fields
Harrods Creek, Kentucky

The Rev. Bennett G. Jones, II
Rector, St. Paul Episcopal Church
Munster, Indiana

The Rev. Timothy Jones
Senior Associate Rector, St. George’s Episcopal Church
Nashville, Tennessee

The Rev. Stuart Brooks Keith III
Rector, Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
Vail, Colorado

The Rev. Jerome A. Kramer
Rector, Church of the Annunciation
New Orleans, Louisiana

The Rev. Gerald W. Krumenacker, Jr.
Rector, Christ Church
Dallas, Texas

The Rev. Ronald James LeBlanc
Priest-in-Charge, Church of the Incarnation
Lafayette, Louisiana

The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr.
Rector, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
Houston, Texas

The Rev. John S. Liebler
Rector, St. Andrew’s Church and Academy
Fort Pierce, Florida

The Rev. Ramiro E. Lopez, Jr.
Rector, St. George Episcopal Church
San Antonio, Texas

The Rev. Daniel H. Martins
Rector, St. Anne’s Episcopal Church
Warsaw, Indiana

The Very Rev. Dr. Jean McCurdy Meade
Rector, Mount Olivet Episcopal Church
New Orleans, Louisiana

The Rev. Mark A. Michael
Rector, Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church
Sharpsburg, Maryland

The Rev. Joel J. Morsch
Rector, Christ Church
Bradenton, Florida

The Rev. Elizabeth L. Myers
Rector, St. Francis of Assisi
Lake Placid, Florida

The Rev. David G. Newhart
Rector, St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church
Sebastian, Florida

The Rev. John Newton
Rector, Messiah Episcopal Church
Saint Paul, Minnesota

The Very Rev. Timothy C. Nunez
Rector, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
Belleview, Florida

The Rev. Jennie C. Olbrych
Vicar, St. James Santee Episcopal Church
McClellanville, South Carolina

The Rev. Robert P. Price
Rector, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church
Houston, Texas

The Rev. Dr. Darrel D. Proffitt
Rector, Church of the Holy Apostles
Katy, Texas

The Rev. Fredrick Arthur Robinson
Rector, The Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota, Florida

The Rev. Bruce M. Robison, D.Min.
Rector, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Rev. Mark Seitz
Rector, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
Wheeling, West Virginia

The Rev. John Thomas Sheehan
Rector, The Church of Our Redeemer
Aldie, Virginia

The Rev. Dr. Jerry Smith
Rector, St. Bartholomew’s Parish
Nashville, Tennessee

The Rev. Leigh Spruill
Rector, St. George’s Episcopal Church
Nashville, Tennessee

The Very Rev. Canon Harold L. Trott, SSC
Vicar, Church of Our Saviour
Albuquerque, New Mexico

The Rev. Eric W. Turner, Sr.
Rector, St. John’s Episcopal Church
Melbourne, Florida

The Rev. Guido Verbeck
Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Shreveport, Louisiana

The Very Rev. Dr. Edward A. Weiss, OSB, APC
Rector, Church of Our Saviour
Okeechobee, Florida

The Rev. John T. Wells
Rector, Episcopal Church Of The Holy Spirit
Waco, Texas

The Rev. Ted Welty
Interim Rector, Christ Episcopal Church
Tyler, Texas

The Rev. Stockton Williams, Jr.
Rector, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Kerrville, Texas

The Rev. Dr. Kenneth A. Wolfe
Rector, Christ Episcopal Church
Fitchburg, Massachusetts

The Rev. Michael Wyckoff
Rector, St. Luke’s on the Lake
Austin, Texas

The Archbishop of Canterbury responds to GC2009?

2009-07-27T17:11:00.004-04:00

Below are the rather lengthy thoughts of Archbishop Rowan Williams on the Episcopal Church General Convention 2009. There are 26 separate points. I will present them without comment on my part. Let me know what you think:

Reflections on the Episcopal Church's 2009 General Convention from the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Bishops, Clergy and Faithful of the Anglican Communion.

1. No-one could be in any doubt about the eagerness of the Bishops and Deputies of the Episcopal Church at the General Convention to affirm their concern about the wider Anglican Communion. Their generous welcome to guests from elsewhere, including myself, the manifest engagement with the crushing problems of the developing world and even the wording of one of the more controversial resolutions all make plain the fact that the Episcopal Church does not wish to cut its moorings from other parts of the Anglican family. There has been an insistence at the highest level that the two most strongly debated resolutions (DO25 and CO56) do not have the automatic effect of overturning the requested moratoria, if the wording is studied carefully. There is a clear commitment to seek counsel from elsewhere in the Communion about certain issues and an eloquent resolution in support of the 'Covenant for a Communion in Mission' as commended by ACC13. All of this merits grateful acknowledgement. The relationship between the Episcopal Church and the wider Communion is a reality which needs continued engagement and encouragement.

2. However, a realistic assessment of what Convention has resolved does not suggest that it will repair the broken bridges into the life of other Anglican provinces; very serious anxieties have already been expressed. The repeated request for moratoria on the election of partnered gay clergy as bishops and on liturgical recognition of same-sex partnerships has clearly not found universal favour, although a significant minority of bishops has just as clearly expressed its intention to remain with the consensus of the Communion. The statement that the Resolutions are essentially 'descriptive' is helpful, but unlikely to allay anxieties.

3. There are two points which I believe need to be reiterated and thought through further, and it seems to fall to the Archbishop of Canterbury to try and articulate them. To some extent they echo part of what I wrote after the last General Convention, as well as things said at the Lambeth Conference and the ACC, but they still have some pertinence.

4. The first is to do with the arguments most often used against the moratoria relating to same-sex unions. Appeal is made to the fundamental human rights dimension of attitudes to LGBT people, and to the impossibility of betraying their proper expectations of a Christian body which has courageously supported them.

5. In response, it needs to be made absolutely clear that, on the basis of repeated statements at the highest levels of the Communion's life, no Anglican has any business reinforcing prejudice against LGBT people, questioning their human dignity and civil liberties or their place within the Body of Christ. Our overall record as a Communion has not been consistent in this respect and this needs to be acknowledged with penitence.

6. However, the issue is not simply about civil liberties or human dignity or even about pastoral sensitivity to the freedom of individual Christians to form their consciences on this matter. It is about whether the Church is free to recognise same-sex unions by means of public blessings that are seen as being, at the very least, analogous to Christian marriage.

7. In the light of the way in which the Church has consistently read the Bible for the last two thousand years, it is clear that a positive answer to this question would have to be based on the most painstaking biblical exegesis and on a wide acceptance of the results within the Communion, with due account taken of the teachings of ecumenical partners also. A major change naturally needs a strong level of consensus and solid theological grounding.

8. This is not our situation in the Communion. Thus a blessing for a same-sex union cannot have the authority of the Church Catholic, or even of the Communion as a whole. And if this is the case, a person living in such a union is in the same case as a heterosexual person living in a sexual relationship outside the marriage bond; whatever the human respect and pastoral sensitivity such persons must be given, their chosen lifestyle is not one that the Church's teaching sanctions, and thus it is hard to see how they can act in the necessarily representative role that the ordained ministry, especially the episcopate, requires.

9. In other words, the question is not a simple one of human rights or human dignity. It is that a certain choice of lifestyle has certain consequences. So long as the Church Catholic, or even the Communion as a whole does not bless same-sex unions, a person living in such a union cannot without serious incongruity have a representative function in a Church whose public teaching is at odds with their lifestyle. (There is also an unavoidable difficulty over whether someone belonging to a local church in which practice has been changed in respect of same-sex unions is able to represent the Communion's voice and perspective in, for example, international ecumenical encounters.)

10. This is not a matter that can be wholly determined by what society at large considers usual or acceptable or determines to be legal. Prejudice and violence against LGBT people are sinful and disgraceful when society at large is intolerant of such people; if the Church has echoed the harshness of the law and of popular bigotry – as it so often has done – and justified itself by pointing to what society took for granted, it has been wrong to do so. But on the same basis, if society changes its attitudes, that change does not of itself count as a reason for the Church to change its discipline.

11. The second issue is the broader one of how a local church makes up its mind on a sensitive and controversial matter. It is of the greatest importance to remember this aspect of the matter, so as not to be completely trapped in the particularly bitter and unpleasant atmosphere of the debate over sexuality, in which unexamined prejudice is still so much in evidence and accusations of bad faith and bigotry are so readily thrown around.

12. When a local church seeks to respond to a new question, to the challenge of possible change in its practice or discipline in the light of new facts, new pressures, or new contexts, as local churches have repeatedly sought to do, it needs some way of including in its discernment the judgement of the wider Church. Without this, it risks becoming unrecognisable to other local churches, pressing ahead with changes that render it strange to Christian sisters and brothers across the globe.

13. This is not some piece of modern bureaucratic absolutism, but the conviction of the Church from its very early days. The doctrine that 'what affects the communion of all should be decided by all' is a venerable principle. On some issues, there emerges a recognition that a particular new development is not of such significance that a high level of global agreement is desirable; in the language used by the Doctrinal Commission of the Communion, there is a recognition that in 'intensity, substance and extent' it is not of fundamental importance. But such a recognition cannot be wished into being by one local church alone. It takes time and a willingness to believe that what we determine together is more likely, in a New Testament framework, to be in tune with the Holy Spirit than what any one community decides locally.

14. Sometimes in Christian history, of course, that wider discernment has been very fallible, as with the history of the Chinese missions in the seventeenth century. But this should not lead us to ignore or minimise the opposite danger of so responding to local pressure or change that a local church simply becomes isolated and imprisoned in its own cultural environment.

15. There have never been universal and straightforward rules about this, and no-one is seeking a risk-free, simple organ of doctrinal decision for our Communion. In an age of vastly improved communication, we must make the best use we can of the means available for consultation and try to build into our decision-making processes ways of checking whether a new local development would have the effect of isolating a local church or making it less recognisable to others. This again has an ecumenical dimension when a global Christian body is involved in partnerships and discussions with other churches who will quite reasonably want to know who now speaks for the body they are relating to when a controversial local change occurs. The results of our ecumenical discussions are themselves important elements in shaping the theological vision within which we seek to resolve our own difficulties.

16. In recent years, local pastoral needs have been cited as the grounds for changes in the sacramental practice of particular local churches within the Communion, and theological rationales have been locally developed to defend and promote such changes. Lay presidency at the Holy Communion is one well-known instance. Another is the regular admission of the unbaptised to Holy Communion as a matter of public policy. Neither of these practices has been given straightforward official sanction as yet by any Anglican authorities at diocesan or provincial level, but the innovative practices concerned have a high degree of public support in some localities.

17. Clearly there are significant arguments to be had about such matters on the shared and agreed basis of Scripture, Tradition and reason. But it should be clear that an acceptance of these sorts of innovation in sacramental practice would represent a manifest change in both the teaching and the discipline of the Anglican tradition, such that it would be a fair question as to whether the new practice was in any way continuous with the old. Hence the question of 'recognisability' once again arises.

18. To accept without challenge the priority of local and pastoral factors in the case either of sexuality or of sacramental practice would be to abandon the possibility of a global consensus among the Anglican churches such as would continue to make sense of the shape and content of most of our ecumenical activity. It would be to re-conceive the Anglican Communion as essentially a loose federation of local bodies with a cultural history in common, rather than a theologically coherent 'community of Christian communities'.

19. As Anglicans, our membership of the Communion is an important part of our identity. However, some see this as best expressed in a more federalist and pluralist way. They would see this as the only appropriate language for a modern or indeed postmodern global fellowship of believers in which levels of diversity are bound to be high and the risks of centralisation and authoritarianism are the most worrying. There is nothing foolish or incoherent about this approach. But it is not the approach that has generally shaped the self-understanding of our Communion – less than ever in the last half-century, with new organs and instruments for the Communion's communication and governance and new enterprises in ecumenical co-operation.

20. The Covenant proposals of recent years have been a serious attempt to do justice to that aspect of Anglican history that has resisted mere federation. They seek structures that will express the need for mutual recognisability, mutual consultation and some shared processes of decision-making. They are emphatically not about centralisation but about mutual responsibility. They look to the possibility of a freely chosen commitment to sharing discernment (and also to a mutual respect for the integrity of each province, which is the point of the current appeal for a moratorium on cross-provincial pastoral interventions). They remain the only proposals we are likely to see that address some of the risks and confusions already detailed, encouraging us to act and decide in ways that are not simply local.

21. They have been criticised as 'exclusive' in intent. But their aim is not to shut anyone out – rather, in words used last year at the Lambeth Conference, to intensify existing relationships.

22. It is possible that some will not choose this way of intensifying relationships, though I pray that it will be persuasive. It would be a mistake to act or speak now as if those decisions had already been made – and of course approval of the final Covenant text is still awaited. For those whose vision is not shaped by the desire to intensify relationships in this particular way, or whose vision of the Communion is different, there is no threat of being cast into outer darkness – existing relationships will not be destroyed that easily. But it means that there is at least the possibility of a twofold ecclesial reality in view in the middle distance: that is, a 'covenanted' Anglican global body, fully sharing certain aspects of a vision of how the Church should be and behave, able to take part as a body in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue; and, related to this body, but in less formal ways with fewer formal expectations, there may be associated local churches in various kinds of mutual partnership and solidarity with one another and with 'covenanted' provinces.

23. This has been called a 'two-tier' model, or, more disparagingly, a first- and second-class structure. But perhaps we are faced with the possibility rather of a 'two-track' model, two ways of witnessing to the Anglican heritage, one of which had decided that local autonomy had to be the prevailing value and so had in good faith declined a covenantal structure. If those who elect this model do not take official roles in the ecumenical interchanges and processes in which the 'covenanted' body participates, this is simply because within these processes there has to be clarity about who has the authority to speak for whom.

24. It helps to be clear about these possible futures, however much we think them less than ideal, and to speak about them not in apocalyptic terms of schism and excommunication but plainly as what they are – two styles of being Anglican, whose mutual relation will certainly need working out but which would not exclude co-operation in mission and service of the kind now shared in the Communion. It should not need to be said that a competitive hostility between the two would be one of the worst possible outcomes, and needs to be clearly repudiated. The ideal is that both 'tracks' should be able to pursue what they believe God is calling them to be as Church, with greater integrity and consistency. It is right to hope for and work for the best kinds of shared networks and institutions of common interest that could be maintained as between different visions of the Anglican heritage. And if the prospect of greater structural distance is unwelcome, we must look seriously at what might yet make it less likely.

25. It is my strong hope that all the provinces will respond favourably to the invitation to Covenant. But in the current context, the question is becoming more sharply defined of whether, if a province declines such an invitation, any elements within it will be free (granted the explicit provision that the Covenant does not purport to alter the Constitution or internal polity of any province) to adopt the Covenant as a sign of their wish to act in a certain level of mutuality with other parts of the Communion. It is important that there should be a clear answer to this question.

26. All of this is to do with becoming the Church God wants us to be, for the better proclamation of the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ. It would be a great mistake to see the present situation as no more than an unhappy set of tensions within a global family struggling to find a coherence that not all its members actually want. Rather, it is an opportunity for clarity, renewal and deeper relation with one another – and so also with Our Lord and his Father, in the power of the Spirit. To recognise different futures for different groups must involve mutual respect for deeply held theological convictions. Thus far in Anglican history we have (remarkably) contained diverse convictions more or less within a unified structure. If the present structures that have safeguarded our unity turn out to need serious rethinking in the near future, this is not the end of the Anglican way and it may bring its own opportunities. Of course it is problematic; and no-one would say that new kinds of structural differentiation are desirable in their own right. But the different needs and priorities identified by different parts of our family, and in the long run the different emphases in what we want to say theologically about the Church itself, are bound to have consequences. We must hope that, in spite of the difficulties, this may yet be the beginning of a new era of mission and spiritual growth for all who value the Anglican name and heritage.

+ Rowan Cantuar

From Lambeth Palace, Monday 27 July 2009

Below is the Response of the Archbishop of Canterbury to General Convention 2009

2009-07-23T10:27:00.008-04:00

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That's right. As of this moment, the silence from Lambert Palace is deafening.

General Convention 2009 is Over!

2009-07-18T13:01:00.002-04:00

The Americans know this will end in schism

2009-07-15T07:30:00.004-04:00

In the slow-moving train crash of international Anglicanism, a decision taken in California has finally brought a large coach off the rails altogether. The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church (TEC) in the United States has voted decisively to allow in principle the appointment, to all orders of ministry, of persons in active same-sex relationships. This marks a clear break with the rest of the Anglican Communion.

Both the bishops and deputies (lay and clergy) of TEC knew exactly what they were doing. They were telling the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other “instruments of communion” that they were ignoring their plea for a moratorium on consecrating practising homosexuals as bishops. They were rejecting the two things the Archbishop of Canterbury has named as the pathway to the future — the Windsor Report (2004) and the proposed Covenant (whose aim is to provide a modus operandi for the Anglican Communion). They were formalising the schism they initiated six years ago when they consecrated as bishop a divorced man in an active same-sex relationship, against the Primates’ unanimous statement that this would “tear the fabric of the Communion at its deepest level”. In Windsor’s language, they have chosen to “walk apart”.

Granted, the TEC resolution indicates a strong willingness to remain within the Anglican Communion. But saying “we want to stay in, but we insist on rewriting the rules” is cynical double-think. We should not be fooled.

Of course, matters didn’t begin with the consecration of Gene Robinson. The floodgates opened several years before, particularly in 1996 when a church court acquitted a bishop who had ordained active homosexuals. Many in TEC have long embraced a theology in which chastity, as universally understood by the wider Christian tradition, has been optional.

That wider tradition always was counter-cultural as well as counter-intuitive. Our supposedly selfish genes crave a variety of sexual possibilities. But Jewish, Christian and Muslim teachers have always insisted that lifelong man-plus-woman marriage is the proper context for sexual intercourse. This is not (as is frequently suggested) an arbitrary rule, dualistic in overtone and killjoy in intention. It is a deep structural reflection of the belief in a creator God who has entered into covenant both with his creation and with his people (who carry forward his purposes for that creation).

Paganism ancient and modern has always found this ethic, and this belief, ridiculous and incredible. But the biblical witness is scarcely confined, as the shrill leader in yesterday’s Times suggests, to a few verses in St Paul. Jesus’s own stern denunciation of sexual immorality would certainly have carried, to his hearers, a clear implied rejection of all sexual behaviour outside heterosexual monogamy. This isn’t a matter of “private response to Scripture” but of the uniform teaching of the whole Bible, of Jesus himself, and of the entire Christian tradition.

The appeal to justice as a way of cutting the ethical knot in favour of including active homosexuals in Christian ministry simply begs the question. Nobody has a right to be ordained: it is always a gift of sheer and unmerited grace. The appeal also seriously misrepresents the notion of justice itself, not just in the Christian tradition of Augustine, Aquinas and others, but in the wider philosophical discussion from Aristotle to John Rawls. Justice never means “treating everybody the same way”, but “treating people appropriately”, which involves making distinctions between different people and situations. Justice has never meant “the right to give active expression to any and every sexual desire”.

Such a novel usage would also raise the further question of identity. It is a very recent innovation to consider sexual preferences as a marker of “identity” parallel to, say, being male or female, English or African, rich or poor. Within the “gay community” much postmodern reflection has turned away from “identity” as a modernist fiction. We simply “construct” ourselves from day to day.

We must insist, too, on the distinction between inclination and desire on the one hand and activity on the other — a distinction regularly obscured by references to “homosexual clergy” and so on. We all have all kinds of deep-rooted inclinations and desires. The question is, what shall we do with them? One of the great Prayer Book collects asks God that we may “love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise”. That is always tough, for all of us. Much easier to ask God to command what we already love, and promise what we already desire. But much less like the challenge of the Gospel.

The question then presses: who, in the US, is now in communion with the great majority of the Anglican world? It would be too hasty to answer, the newly formed “province” of the “Anglican Church in North America”. One can sympathise with some of the motivations of these breakaway Episcopalians. But we should not forget the Episcopalian bishops, who, doggedly loyal to their own Church, and to the expressed mind of the wider Communion, voted against the current resolution. Nor should we forget the many parishes and worshippers who take the same stance. There are many American Episcopalians, inside and outside the present TEC, who are eager to sign the proposed Covenant. That aspiration must be honoured.

Contrary to some who have recently adopted the phrase, there is already a “fellowship of confessing Anglicans”. It is called the Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church is now distancing itself from that fellowship. Ways must be found for all in America who want to be loyal to it, and to scripture, tradition and Jesus, to have that loyalty recognised and affirmed at the highest level.

The Right Reverend Tom Wright is Bishop of Durham

From The Times of London 9-15-09

Some Thoughts on Authority

2009-07-14T22:35:00.004-04:00

In our Tuesday morning Bible Study on the Sunday Readings, the question arose as to how Anglicans decide where authority resides. Some churches see authority in ancient tradition as equal with Holy Scripture. Yet other Christians say all authority comes from Holy Scripture. In the past, we might have heard about a three-legged stool of Holy Scripture, tradition and reason. In recent years, there are those who add a fourth leg to the stool by adding personal experience.

The whole three-legged stool concept comes from the writings of a famous Anglican theologian by the name of Richard Hooker. He is also the person who is credited with the idea of the via media or middle way. What did Richard Hooker actually say? His great theological work, The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, never uses the phrase three-legged stool. Rather he cites Holy Scripture as the primary source of authority and then he mentions two supplementary sources to assist our understanding.

“What Scripture doth plainly deliver, to that the first place credit and obedience is due; the next whereunto is whatsoever any man can necessarily conclude by force of reason; after these the voice of the Church succeedeeth.” – The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, Book V, chapter 8, section 2.

It is clear that a three-legged stool is a poor metaphor for what Richard Hooker describes above. Hooker’s understanding of authority makes sense since it is a middle ground between the extremes of unreformed Catholicism while avoiding viewing the Bible as an idol. His views also seem to be in line with the earliest writings of what has become known as the Fathers of the Church.

The Holy Scriptures of the Bible are our most authoritative source for understanding God, God’s grace, Jesus Christ the Son of God and the author of our salvation. But we have two additional helps to assist us as we attempt to understand God’s call to us; these are reason informed by Scripture and the voice of the Church throughout the ages or what is most often called tradition.

General Convention 2009 has begun!

2009-07-09T10:46:00.001-04:00

Pentecost Sunday

2009-06-02T09:09:00.006-04:00

Happy Birthday to the Church!

Bishop's Visitation

2009-05-05T10:21:00.019-04:00

Bishop Dabney Smith visited on April 26th and we confirmed or received 31 people into the Episcopal Church. It was wonderful and joyous day!

Buddhist Bishop? NO!

2009-04-21T20:20:00.003-04:00

I recently sent the following letter to our Diocesan Standing Committee:

Dear Members of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Southwest Florida,

I am writing to ask you to deny consent to the election of Kevin G. Thew Forrester as the Bishop of Northern Michigan. I note that the Reverend Forrester was elected in a non-contested election in which he was the only candidate nominated by a committee which he chaired. The irregularity of this election would be sufficient enough to deny consent to his election. However, there is also the problem of his record of composing non-Prayer Book liturgies of the most questionable nature in which he denies the Virgin Birth of Jesus among other things. His sermons which are readily available on the internet are at odds with the basic principles of Christianity. A bishop is called to be a defender of the faith not to deny the creeds and the catechism.

I had the good fortune this last week to meet with Bishop Ed Little of Northern Indiana at a conference attended by the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord George Carey and other bishops of our church. Bishop Little spoke of his very clear objections to the election of Kevin G. Thew Forrester during our discussion and noted that he had put his objections on his diocesan website. I am appending those comments at the end of this letter since I believe he states the case more eloquently than I am able to do. I ask you to read the comments below.

Finally, I would ask you to remember that a bishop is a bishop of the entire Episcopal Church not merely the bishop of a particular diocese. To approve this election will do great harm to Northern Michigan, to our diocese and to the entire Episcopal Church. I have expressed my objections to this election in private conversations and meetings with the President of the Standing Committee and to our Bishop so I feel compelled to express these objections to the entire Standing Committee. I pray that you carefully consider the ramifications to our laity and our clergy if consent is given to this election by our Standing Committee.

Grace and peace,

Joel+

The Reverend Joel J. Morsch
Christ Church
4030 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, Florida 34205
Office Phone (941) 747-3709
Cell Phone (941) 773-6018
fatherjoel@tampabay.rr.com
fatherjoel@christchurchswfla.org
http://www.christchurchswfla.org/
http://fatherjoelmorsch.blogspot.com/

From the Diocese of Northern Indiana website: http://www.ednin.org/ednin/

A Letter from Bishop Ed Little on the Northern Michigan election

by Bishop Edward Little - Tuesday, 7 April 2009, 02:09 PM

Dear brothers and sisters,Many of you have asked me about the election of the Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester as Bishop of Northern Michigan, and in particular about whether I gave consent for his consecration. I did not; nor did the Standing Committee, which had its own in-depth conversation on this important matter.Several issues have been raised concerning Fr. Thew Forrester in the months since his election. First, he has undergone “lay ordination” in the Zen Buddhist tradition. Is this simply an acknowledgement that he engages in meditation practices with Buddhist roots? Or does it indicate a more dangerous mingling of Christian and Buddhist teaching, a hazardous syncretism? I do not have a clear answer to that question, though his articulation of the Christian faith seems to blend spiritual categories in a disquieting way. Second, the election process in the Diocese of Northern Michigan, while not uncanonical, gives the appearance of a closed system. The nominating committee presented only one candidate to the electing convention, and thus the election seems like the ratification of a decision already made. Third, the website of Fr. Thew Forrester’s parish – St. Paul’s, Marquette – indicates that he has written his own Eucharistic prayers and even made significant modifications to the baptismal liturgy. The Book of Common Prayer, on the other hand, is part of the constitution of the Church; its use is not optional, and clergy are not free to modify its texts. The Prayer Book is our doctrinal anchor, rooted in Scripture and summarizing the essential teachings of the Christian faith. Fourth, Fr. Thew Forrester’s sermons – also posted on the parish website – indicate a disturbing weakness in his understanding (and embrace) of basic Christian doctrines: the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the atoning work of Christ on the cross. As I’ve pondered Fr. Thew Forrester’s election, this is the most troubling dimension of all, and in the end it is what led me to withhold consent.In the Christian Church, bishops are not “private citizens”. They are called “to be one with the apostles in proclaiming Christ’s resurrection and interpreting the Gospel, and to testify to Christ’s sovereignty as Lord of lords and King of kings . . . [and] to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church” (BCP, p. 517). These are solemn obligations, and inherent to the ministry of bishop in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. St. Paul himself lays this charge upon his successor, Timothy: “Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us” (2 Timothy 1:13-14).A bishop’s teaching ministry must never be idiosyncratic. We have no message other than the one that has been given to us. The task of bishops is to pass on that message as faithfully as we can; to proclaim Jesus Christ – crucified, risen, coming again; clearly and winsomely to present his person and his work; and to offer the world a Gospel that challenges, heals, and restores us to a relationship with the Father. With the information I have at hand, I am not convinced that Fr. Thew Forrester would be able to discharge this essential obligation of episcopal office.I cast my No vote without joy; indeed, with sorrow in my heart. If the Church denies consent for Fr. Thew Forrester to be consecrated as Bishop of Northern Michigan, it will be a tragic development for the diocese, and for Fr. Thew Forrester himself. He is, from all reports, a beloved and respected priest, passionate about ministry and committed to his people. Please join me in praying for him, and for the diocese, that in the midst of a most difficult time Jesus will be experienced more and more deeply, and ultimately his kingdom extended and his people with encouraged.

With all blessings I amYours in Christ,

+Ed

I can now report that our Standing Committee today denied consent!

Christ Church Softball Team

2009-04-19T19:52:00.002-04:00

I was sent a picture our softball that I want to share with you. They are a pretty formidable group aren't they?

Easter Sunday - 2009

2009-04-18T11:31:00.015-04:00

Easter Vigil - 2009

2009-04-15T00:01:00.022-04:00

Maundy Thursday - 2009

2009-04-14T20:28:00.010-04:00

Palm Sunday 2009

2009-04-13T22:10:00.009-04:00

Bishop Smith at Christ Church Lenten Series

2009-03-13T10:11:00.009-04:00

We were honored to have Bishop Dabney Smith with us on Wednesday for our Lenten Series. His talk was on the "Sacrament of Reconciliation." During his visit he also had dinner with our youth group and dedicated a chalice. Lastly, he recovered his giraffe that he misplaced during the Diocesan Convention.

The Lenten Series continues the next three weeks with "Resurrection and Eternal Life" by Father Eric Mills, "Evangelism and the Anglican Church in Africa" by Bishop Tunde Adeleye & Bishop Olusegun Adeyemi and "Faith and Grace" by Father Joel Morsch.

EFM Luncheon

2009-03-12T13:35:00.009-04:00

Last Sunday after the final church service the Education for Ministry group (EFM) had a reunion luncheon. There was good food and lively fellowship share by all who attended.

I wasn't invited but it looks like they had fun . . .

2009-03-09T13:11:00.007-04:00

Girls' Night Out was a huge success with over sixty women in attendance. I was actually invited but I decided they could do very well without me since my wife, Barbara, was there.

Shrove Tuesday 2009

2009-02-25T11:09:00.022-05:00

How can a person not have fun on Shrove Tuesday? The only way to not have fun is if you miss the Pancake Supper. Lots of fun, food and fellowship!

2009-02-23T10:28:00.002-05:00

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday. The Youth Group will be sponsoring the Pancake Supper in the Parish hall from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. This is a wonderful of fellowship and great way to support our youth.

Also remember that the service times for Ash Wednesday are 7:00 AM in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, 12:00 noon in the nave and 7:00 PM in the Nave.

I really do love Sundays!

2009-02-02T11:12:00.005-05:00

I have been sick as a dog all week leading up to Sunday but I love Sunday mornings! I rallied for two sermons and a confirmation class and thought I was doing fine. But had to go to bed early last night and I don't feel so wonderful today. The moral of this story? I love Sundays!

The 9:00 Band at Hope Seeds

2009-01-30T00:06:00.006-05:00

Our very own “9:00 Band” will be playing from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon at a special event for Hope Seeds. I'm sure they would appreciate our support!!! If you have Saturday, February 7th open, consider heading out to the Hope Seeds event at Hunsader Farms. There are events going on all day which include music, games for kids, etc. I’ve attached the web link below that describes the day. Since they will be playing just before noon, you might be interested to know that burgers, hot dogs, etc. will be available as well!

Hope to see you there!

http://hopeseeds.org/anniversary.htm

Combined Service & Annual Meeting

2009-01-26T08:57:00.007-05:00

Sunday we had our annual meeting which was preceded by our combined service of Holy Communion. The service was a mixture of our three regular Sunday services and allowed people to experience some new types of music and worship. The Annual Meeting was brief and enjoyable. We elected four new vestry members: George Isiminger, Hope Stephenson, Jan DiUlio and Blake Hadley. We also elected two alternates: Kevin Oden and Janet Welch. Our new Wardens were also announced. The Senior Warden is Linda Norris and Candy Holt returns as Junior Warden. We also gave grateful thanks to our outgoing Senior Warden, Bob Clay. Bob does continue to serve on the Vestry. Sally Washio, Neil McCurry and Ted Schmidt have completed their Vestry terms and we thank them for their numerous contributions to the life of Christ Church.

Our Choir

2009-01-21T11:50:00.002-05:00

This last Sunday following our 11:00 service, Marcella took a wonderful picture of our Choir. Our music ministry is very important here at Christ Church and our Choir is a key asset to our worship at 11:00 on Sunday mornings. I thought I'd share this picture with you.

I also want to note that we had a full house at our Organ Recital on Sunday afternoon. It was an amazing experience to see 570+ people at this event.

More from Christmas Eve

2009-01-02T11:38:00.012-05:00

Sorry it took me so long to put up Marcella Kessick's pictures from Christmas Eve but here they are! Of course, Christmastide continues until January 6 and our Epiphany service in the church. So Merry Christmas to everyone!

Christmas Eve Pageant 2008

2008-12-25T19:57:00.009-05:00

We had a beautiful Christmas Eve Pageant. The children did a terrific job. These are my pictures but I will post the Marvelous Marcella's pictures of this event tomorrow. One can never have too much Christmas!

Christmas Pageant Practice 2008

2008-12-20T21:56:00.012-05:00

I just love the rehearsal that we have every year for our Christmas Eve Pageant. There is always a mixture of goofiness, anticipation and joy. This year was no exception. I think most everyone had a great time!

A Sister in Need

2008-12-15T09:54:00.001-05:00

Hello Everyone,

As I announced in church on Sunday, we have a parishioner who needs our assistance. The specifics are as follows: Maegan Shaw, the daughter of Linda Shaw, needs a ride to dialysis at Children’s Hospital in Saint Petersburg from Manatee High School on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in January and February 2009. This will require picking Maegan up at the school (902 35th W.) at 11:00 AM. After dropping Maegan off at the dialysis unit the driver can return home.

If God is calling you to assist our sister in Christ, you may contact Linda at her home number (941) 744-9754. Please leave your number and she will return your call and provide you with the specific driving directions. If you have any questions you may also contact me directly at (941) 773-6018 or via e-mail at fatherjoel@tampabay.rr.com.

Grace and peace,

Joel+

What I did on my Fall Vacation

2008-12-01T19:58:00.005-05:00

Prior to Thanksgiving, I took a fly fishing trip to Water Cay near Grand Bahama Island. It was actually pretty cold but as you can see I did catch some decent bonefish. A note to Franciscans out there; this fish and every fish I caught was released alive and in good condition!

Important things!

2008-11-14T11:35:00.003-05:00

I have failed to put up much on my blog recently. I have been remiss. So here is the biggest event in my life lately: my first grandchild! His name is Will and he was born on my birthday. Grace and peace to all.

2008-10-22T05:59:00.002-04:00

I want to thank everyone for their kindness in their concerns for Barbara and me for our loss of our family pet, Piper, this last Saturday. He was a wonderful little Sheltie who was our friend and companion for nearly fourteen years.

God choose to smile on us in that we were blessed yesterday to welcome our first grandchild, William David Lucht, into the world on my birthday. My daughter, Jessica and her husband Brad, are the parents of a 9 pound little boy. Thanks be to God!

Grace and peace,

Joel+

St. Francis Day Pet Blessing

2008-10-10T12:10:00.014-04:00

Samaritans Garage Sale for Outreach

2008-10-08T11:09:00.009-04:00

Last Saturday was our Good Samaritans garage sale. After long months of gathering sale items the committee had a successful sale raising over $1800 for outreach! It was also lots of fun as you can see.

Parish Kitchen Dedication & Shower

2008-10-02T13:27:00.004-04:00

Last Sunday, we dedicated our refurbished Parish Kitchen. It was a great time of celebration and fellowship. Many, many parishioners were involved in this project helping in demolition, prepping, painting, repairing and reorganizing our new space. Thank you to everyone who helped! I am especially grateful to our vestry for the time and talent they put into this project. But chiefly I thank them for being good stewards our parish treasure by their frugal management of funds to bring this effort with such a small budget. Thanks again to all who helped and God bless you all!

News!

2008-10-01T12:07:00.002-04:00

The Living Church is a news magazine for clergy and laity of the Episcopal Church. In their September 14, 2008 issue on Parish Administration on page 59, they note that Christ Church is among the growing parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida.

We are glad that they noticed! We pray through God's grace that this may continue.

Stewardship Prayer

2008-09-08T11:31:00.000-04:00

O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Presentation & Blessing of our New Verge

2008-08-28T17:19:00.003-04:00

In sharing about Rally Sunday, I forgot to mention that our vergers (represented by Angus Graham and Ted Walker) accepted the gift of a new verge given by Deacon Phil Davis this last Sunday. I know all our vergers will appreciate the special dignity of this new liturgical tool.

Rally Sunday

2008-08-27T17:05:00.011-04:00

Rally Sunday was this last week. This was a time for ministries to let people know who they are and to seek new people who are called to ministry. Children were signed up for Sunday School. There were lots of things going on for every member of our parish family. I couldn't put up everything here. Suffice it to say: it was another glorious gathering of the saints here at Christ Church!

Parish Work Day

2008-08-26T13:50:00.001-04:00

Last Saturday was an incredible day. We did lots of yard work, moving and painting. After it was all over, we had a fantastic lunch of brats and burgers. I saw a lot of smiling faces so it seems as though people had fun as well!

Discerning Our Spiritual Gifts

2008-08-21T16:43:00.000-04:00

There are various ways in which we mark time. Some people follow the actual calendar which starts a new year on January 1. In the Episcopal Church, we sometimes mark new years with the beginning of Advent the first week in December. While those are important dates, we truly begin our church year with the return of our children to school and the end of summer vacation. It is also the beginning of the new program year for Christ Church.

Last year was our year of building together and embracing our identity as the Body of Christ. You may recall the wonderful ways in which we lived this out. We had new Adult Education offerings; we celebrated All Saints Day with a mammoth service followed by a picnic and a glorious successful fund raiser for outreach; we raised our average Sunday attendance by more than 12%; we lived within our budget, we confirmed the largest confirmation class in our history (55 people); and much more. This was a very joyful and fulfilling time. However, we need to remember that our journey in Christ is just that; a journey not a destination.

So this year our journey continues. The clergy and staff of Christ Church have decided that a focus is needed for our journey this year as well. As a community, the Body of Christ, we must know the way in which God is calling us now.

How do we do this? The Apostle Paul may have stated the task at hand most clearly in his Letter to the Romans: “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.” (ESV, Romans 12:5-6a) The first step seems to be to know what we are called to be a part of the community and to contribute to that community. We do this by discerning our spiritual gifts with the assistance of God’s Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, saw that our diversity of gifts was a good thing. We need to learn our gifts and then we need to use them for the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ in the church and the world. In a very real sense we become who we are by living into what we are. We are called to know our spiritual gifts because those gifts allow us to live in to our being as the Body of Christ. As we discern our gifts it follows that these are to be used to love God and love our neighbor.

This year the clergy and staff of Christ Church will focus on discerning and using our spiritual gifts. This will be done with a series of classes for all ages, regular preaching on the topic and leading by example. Welcome to:

The Year of Romans 12:5-6a

“So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.” (ESV)

“Living into the Body of Christ, Loving God and Loving our Neighbor.”

By discerning gifts
By participating beyond Sunday
By being community seven full days not one in seven.

The Rector’s Confirmation Class

2008-08-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

Starting on August 31, I will be teaching the Rector’s Confirmation Class. This is a class for anyone who wants to be confirmed or received as a member of Christ Church. It is also a class for visitors, newcomers, and people who want a review of basic Christian teachings. We will learn about Symbols of the Church, Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, Holy Scripture, the Book of Common Prayer, Church History, Salvation and Sanctification. We will meet in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. from August 31 through November 9. If you are interested in attending please write me at fatherjoel@christchurchswfla.org or fatherjoel@tampabay.rr.com or call me at (941) 747-3709 or show up on Sunday, August 31 when we begin. This year Confirmation will be on April 26, 2009 during the Bishop’s annual visitation. I look forward to another great class with many interesting questions.

Parish Kitchen Volunteer Work

2008-08-10T09:50:00.000-04:00

We are another step closer to completing our work in the Parish Kitchen. Garret Barnes led a wonderful group of painters last Tuesday. We will work again this Tuesday, August 12 at 5:30 p.m. That should finish our painting in the kitchen. We will also be painting the ceiling and hallway immediately adjacent to the kitchen starting at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday evening, August 17. We will painted on Monday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 19 at the same starting time to complete the hallway. This is a terrific example of St. Benedict's maxim that work is prayer. Please join us if you are able!

Oh, when those Saints . . .

2008-08-01T09:04:00.000-04:00

This last Wednesday was another work day for the Secret Saints. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all the work that is being done by everyone here at Christ Church. This is a classic example of hearing God's call to ministry and responding! The Saints will paint again on Tuesday, August 5 beginning at 5:30 in the evening. Please join us!

Dedication of Daughters of the King Banner

2008-07-31T11:13:00.000-04:00

On Wednesday, we dedicated a banner for the Daughters of the King. The banner was made by Aida Asfour. Following the dedication the Daughters had a lovely luncheon to honor Aida's work on behalf of the chapter and the parish.

Oh, when the Saints come marching in . . .

2008-07-30T09:21:00.000-04:00

The Secret Saints did more painting and demolition on Tuesday evening. We had 12 people working on both the Godly Play Room and the Parish Kitchen. We also removed an unattractive storage closet outside the kitchen. The work continues this evening as we hope to complete the painting in the Godly Play room and beginning the painting in the Parish Kitchen. Thanks to everyone who helping! Come join us at 6:30 PM Wednesday, July 30.

Secret Saints Sequel

2008-07-27T08:22:00.001-04:00

The Secret Saints were at it again on Saturday morning. I have it on good authority that they will strike again this Tuesday and Wednesday in the evenings!

Secret Saints Swiftly Strike!

2008-07-25T10:11:00.001-04:00

The Secret Saints strike again! Led by the young crowbar wielding Garret, the Saints have successfully demolished our parish kitchen clearing the way for workmen in preparation for new appliances and cabinetry. The Secret Saints continue to do important work around Christ Church in our ongoing refurbishing of our Education Wing, Parish Hall and Kitchen. We have more work over the next few weeks on our Godly Play Room and our Parish Kitchen consisting mainly of patching, priming and painting. If you would like to be a Secret Saint contact Fr. Joel at fatherjoel@tampabay.rr.com or fatherjoel@christchurchswfla.org or (941) 747-3709.

Prayers of the People

2008-07-23T10:03:00.000-04:00

Every Liturgy includes prayers but there is a specific section of our Holy Communion service that the Book of Common Prayer calls the Prayers of the People. This is the time during the Liturgy of the Word when the assembled people of God join together in corporate prayers of intercession and thanksgiving.

Here at Christ Church we include a written list of names of people that the Intercessor reads. These names are usually called in by the parishioners, staff or clergy. Sometimes the names are added at the last minute after a parishioner tells one of the priests or staff members about an immediate and specific need for prayer. In the past the list of names had been collected in the office and the names generally remained on the list for one month.

How can we keep the names of those who are sick or in need before us in a more meaningful way? Does the one time entering of a name on a list or a phone call cause us to pray intentionally for those individuals on our parish prayer list?

Recently the clergy and staff have developed a more intentional method for the listing of names for prayer in the Communion service.

Beginning in September of this year:

A book will be placed in the Narthex where individuals can write down the names of people for intercessory prayer. This book will be in plain sight and available at all Sunday services.
We ask that the full name of the person to be prayed for be listed along with a specific prayer request.
Names can be e-mailed or called into the parish office at any time if an individual is unable to physically come in for any reason.
Prayers can be for thanksgiving as well as intercession. It is appropriate to thank God for the many and varied blessings in our lives.
The parish prayer list will also be available on our parish webpage or at the office in a hard copy.

Starting in September, during all Holy Communion services we will read the only names of those who are hospitalized, those who are celebrating anniversaries or birthdays and finally those who have died. We will not read the extended prayer list in the service. The clergy person or the lay reader however will bid verbal intercessions by asking, “. . . are there others?” and pausing briefly to allow response when reading the Prayers of the People. Our hope is that this will allow a personal aspect to the Prayers of the People while not having to read an unwieldy list of names.
Sometimes anonymity is needed or preferred by a parishioner. If this is the case, Father Joel and Father Eric keep a private prayer list. An individual may e-mail or call them to leave a private prayer request.

Remember anyone can write down names for prayer. If there is a specific need, that need should be mentioned. Also, prayers can be for thanksgiving as well as intercession. It is appropriate to thank God for the many and varied blessings in our lives.

As a side note; I am praying that there will be a group of parishioners who may be called to restart an active Order of Saint Luke. This is an Episcopal Church healing prayer ministry with a long and noble tradition of lay prayer for healing. I know that there was an OSL group at one time but it is not active now. Every parish needs a lay prayer ministry that is primarily for healing prayer and I believe the time is ripe for such a ministry here at Christ Church now. If you are interested or feel called to such a ministry contact Father Joel either in person or by e-mail at fatherjoel@tampabay.rr.com or fatherjoel@christchurchswfla.org.

Prayer is a vital part of being a member of the Body of Christ. We hope the new efforts will help us remember more intentionally those individuals we pray for on a daily and weekly basis. Remember that if you forget to add a name to the prayer list it is completely correct and appropriate to verbally add the name when the Intercessor pauses after bidding intercessions or thanksgivings. This verbal prayer is a true sharing of Christian concern. Finally, we need to recall the words of the Apostle Paul when he said, “Pray without ceasing!”

Secret Saints!

2008-07-12T13:48:00.001-04:00

Who are those masked men (and women) anyway? Those are the Secret Saints of Christ Church! Why are they here? They are prepping the Godly Play Room for painting! Wow, can I be a Secret Saint, too? Why, yes you can, little buckaroo! Just contact Father Joel and he will inform you of the next Secret Saint event!

The Kanuga Renewal Conference and the Smokies

2008-07-09T12:12:00.000-04:00

Having spent the last week and half at the Kanuga Renewal Conference and then doing a little hiking and fishing in the Smokies, I have returned to warm and wonderful Florida. The main speaker at the conference was the Reverend Doctor Paul Zahl. Paul is the former Dean of Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania and is currently Rector of All Saints in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The main message of the week was grace and law. As is typical with PZ, there was a wonderous mix of pop culture, rock music and old movie references. PZ is the most idiosyncratic individual I know. Who else can recommend getting "toy" guns for your sons, know the work of Andy Warhol's last four years intimately, quote Jack Kerouac contantly, and speak on grace and the law for seven sessions and not lose his audience?

I always leave the Renewal Conference invigorated! This year was no exception. I have been inspired to look more closely at the message of God's grace in new and exciting ways. If you are interested in learning more about Paul Zahl, I would recommend either 2000 Years of Amazing Grace or his more recent Grace in Practice: A Theology for Everyday Life. These books will give you a new perspective on God's grace and love. I have already signed up for next year's Renewal Conference which runs from Sunday, June 28 to Friday, July 3, 2009. The main speaker will be the Right Reverend Mike Hill, the Bishop of Bristol in the Church of England. I encourage everyone to begin thinking about attending the Kanuga Renewal Conference in 2009.

Thought for the Day: The Monastery

2008-06-25T11:31:00.000-04:00

I would like to share with you a story by Anthony DeMello.

An old holy man was meditating in the Palestinian desert. He had been deep in prayer. When he opened his eyes he was surprised to find an unexpected visitor sitting there before him the abbot of a well-known monastery!

“Why have you come to see me?” asked the Desert Father.

At that, the abbot recounted a tale of woe. At one time the monastery had been famous throughout the entire world. It was filled with young aspirants and its church resounded to the chants of its numerous monks. Visitors came from the entire world to visit and bask in the spiritual warm of the place. But now something had changed. Hard times had come to the once famous monastery. People no longer flocked there to nourish their souls. The stream of aspirants had dried up. The monks were so few that the chants echoed hollow in the great chapel. Only a handful of monks remained and they went about their duties with heavy hearts.

“What have we done? Have we committed some sin that caused our monastery has come to this low state?” asked the abbot.

After a long silence the Desert Father said, “Yes—yes, you have committed a sin of ignorance.”

“What sin might that be?”

“The Messiah lives among you in disguise and you are ignorant of this!” said the Desert Father and with that the old man returned to his prayers.

Throughout his journey home the abbot’s mind raced! The Messiah, the Messiah himself, had returned and was living in the monastery. It too wonderful! But who could it be? Brother Cook? Brother Prior? Brother Sacristan? No. They all have so many faults. But wait! The Desert Father had said that the Messiah was in disguise. Maybe these faults were part of the disguise!!! But everyone at the monastery had faults. Yet, one among them was the Messiah.

When the abbot returned he told monks what he had discovered. Each monk looked at the others in disbelief. The Messiah? Here? It’s unbelievable! But wait—remember! He was in disguise!

One thing was certain if the Messiah was here and in disguise then it was not likely that they would recognize him. So each monk began to treat everyone else with respect and consideration. “After all” they would say, “you never know—this one might be the Messiah.”

In a short time the atmosphere in the monastery changed. The monks did all their duties with great care and the whole place was vibrant with joy. Visitors started to return to experience the great holiness of the monks. Soon dozens of aspirants were seeking admission to the order. Once again the chapel echoed with the holy and joyful chant of monks who were aglow with the spirit of love.

VBS Sunday - Ah, Ha!

2008-06-16T10:04:00.001-04:00

What a great time we had on Sunday as we got to sing all the VBS songs again. It was fun to share the enthusiasm of Vacation Bible School with the whole of our parish family. "Ah-ha!" has a whole new meaning for everyone at Christ Church.

I hope everyone remembers 1+1+3 as well.

VBS Day 5 - The Finale!

2008-06-14T08:29:00.000-04:00

Vacation Bible School was a rousing success. We had 72 children in attendance not to mention all the volunteer helpers. Everyone learned some new things about Jesus Christ and everyone seemed to enjoy our time together. I personally want to thank everyone who participated in this year's VBS and I look forward to this Sunday when most of the music at our 9:00 service will be coming from the VBS participants.

VBS Day 4 - The Pictures Say It All.

2008-06-12T21:32:00.000-04:00

VBS Day Three - Learning about Jesus & loving it!

2008-06-11T17:44:00.000-04:00

VBS has been a wonderful experience, so why do I look so subdued? Well, I had to leave just minutes after that picture to participate in the insurance policy review for DaySpring Conference Center as part of my duties as a member of the Diocesan Council. Try to guess whether I wanted to stay at VBS or go to my meeting. (Hint: everyone seems to be having more fun here!)

VBS Day Two - Still having fun!

2008-06-11T17:23:00.000-04:00

Thought for the Day

2008-06-11T16:56:00.000-04:00

“The Nazarenes (Christians) will have to look a lot more redeemed before I start believing in their Saviour.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

VBS Day One

2008-06-09T22:23:00.000-04:00

Our Newest Daughters of the King

2008-06-09T22:12:00.000-04:00

Acolyte Sunday

2008-06-09T22:08:00.001-04:00

Presiding Bishop Calls for Day of Prayer

2008-06-09T14:00:00.000-04:00

I was very happy to see that the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church is calling upon the entire denomination to have a day of prayer for the upcoming Lambeth Conference. I find myself in complete agreement with Presiding Bishop and encourage our entire parish family to pray for the Anglican Communion and the Lambeth Conference on Sunday, June 22.

Here is the Presiding Bishop's letter:

June 4, 2008

To the people of The Episcopal Church:

As we move toward a great gathering of bishops from across the Anglican Communion, I call this whole Church to a Day of Prayer on 22 June. The Lambeth Conference represents one important way of building connections and relationships between churches in vastly different contexts, and reminding us of the varied nature of the Body of Christ. I would bid your prayers for openness of spirit, vulnerability of heart and eagerness of mind, that we might all learn to see the Spirit at work in the other. I bid your prayers for a peaceful spirit, a lessening of tension, and a real willingness to work together for the good of God’s whole creation.

As many of you know, the Anglican Communion is one of the largest networks of human connection in the world. Churches are to be found beyond the ends of paved or dirt roads, ministering to and with people in isolated and difficult situations. That far-flung network is the result, in part, of seeds planted by a colonial missionary history. The fruit that has resulted is diverse and local, and indeed, unpalatable to some in other parts of the world. Our task at the Lambeth Conference is to engage that diverse harvest, discover its blessings and challenges, and commit ourselves to the future of this network. We must begin to examine the fruit of our colonial history, in a transparent way and with great humility, if we are ever going to heal the wounds of the past, which continue into the present. With God’s help, that is possible. I ask your prayers. I can think of no better starting place than the prayer for the Church (BCP p 515):

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I remainYour servant in Christ,

Katharine Jefferts Schori