This Sunday, May 18th, we will end our Easter study of the Seven Sacraments with a talk on the Sacrament of Holy Orders. On May 25th, we will begin our Pentecost study on Life in the Spirit.
The Via Salutis Course is a parish wide study that began in Epiphany with a study of God’s Saving Deeds in History (Salvation History) and in Lent with a study of the Life of Holiness (Virtues). Easter was dedicated to a study of the Mystagogy (Seven Sacraments). Our study of the Life in the Spirit during Pentecost will conclude our series for this year.
The Via Salutis Course has also served to prepare those individuals seeking to be confirmed or received as part of St. Andrew’s Church and the Charismatic Episcopal Communion. A service of Confirmation/Reception is scheduled for Sunday, June 29th.
Below is the outline and schedule of our upcoming study:
May 25 - The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
June 1 - The Fruits the Holy Spirit
June 8 - The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Sunday Sermon: How to Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit)
June 15 - The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Warfare
June 22 - The Work of the Ministry I – Sharing Your Faith/Working Together
June 29 - The Work of the Ministry II – Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts (Service of Confirmation and Reception!)
July 13 - The Work of the Ministry III – Answering the Call
All St. Andrew’s parishoners are encouraged to continue in their faithful participation to this study. Visitors and inquirers are joyfully welcome!
Orginally posted February 15, the following has been brought forward as a gentle reminder as to why your mother deserves to be treated with special love and attention on Mother’s Day: The Mom Song sung to the tune of the William Tell Overture. Enjoy!
Yes, I know Pentecost does not begin until tomorrow, May 11. However, I wanted to go ahead and change the header for St. Andrew’s Journal since I anticipate a very busy day both tomorrow. You see, there is a convergence of Pentecost Sunday and Mother’s Day taking place tomorrow which means… well, it means as both a priest and a husband, my day will not be my own.
Have a blessed Pentecost and a Happy Mother’s Day.
This coming Sunday morning, Father Lem Anderson, curate, will continue our Via Salutis: Easter Series on the seven sacraments with a talk on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Fellowship breakfast begins at 9:00 am with class beginning at 9:15 am. Teens and adults study together. Corresponding classes are available for nursery age and children ages 5-12. Everyone is welcome. See you Sunday!
In preparation for the season of Pentecost which begins Pentecost Sunday, May 11.
We live in an “instant” world. We have access to a wealth of information at our fingertips on the internet. We have fast foods, media stimulation, fast travel, pain medications for both physical and mental issues, programs, herbs that guarantee almost eternal life, and pleasure and entertainment that has never been more accessible. Continued development in the technological world could promise “designer babies” and lead to an extension of life on earth beyond a hundred years in increased numbers. No pain is gain!
It seems that pain and difficulties are considered the enemy of our world. I don’t know too many people who sign up for “Pain Anonymous” because they are addicted to pain. Most of us would rather do away with pain all together.
Pain is not always negative. Waiting, going without on occasion, is not always a bad thing. Neither does getting our way and wants always bring happiness. Pain can be a signal that something is amiss. When I miss the nail and hit my thumb the physical pain communicates that it is better to hit the nail on the head then my thumb. Pain at times is a gift and can lead to change and healing.
We can experience the pain of guilt, remorse, anger, hurt in our psychological and spiritual development. We should not run our lives on feelings. Likewise we should not ignore them, They are neurotransmitters of information as to how things are going inside us. Our opinions and feelings may not always be correct so we need to parent them by accountable relationships, scripture, prayer and an awareness of our susceptibility to error on the side of self protection.
You may say “If only The Lord could enter our painful world.” He, of course, can and does. The Comforter” (the Holy Spirit) was sent to the church to come “along side” our lives in Christ right where we live. This means His goal is not to teach us to deny, or overplay our sufferings, feelings, but to rely on Him to teach us the Lord’s perspective to the glory of God. The Holy Spirit does not bypass our pain, but brings His presence to comfort, heal. provide power and wisdom to us, in our sometimes difficult journeys of faith. The Holy Spirit still makes “heart” calls.
In this season of the Church year we celebrate Pentecost, the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit (The Comforter) to the Church. During this Pentecost season, as a community in Christ, we study and renew our understanding of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. Let’s read Romans 8:26 (Amplified) ” So the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for words.“ Notice the emotions, the personal pronouns and the passion of the Holy Spirit on our behalf described in the verse. Let our prayer this church season be to Holy Spirit as follows:
“ Come Holy Spirit ! Oh Breathe of God, renew, refresh, fill, heal, come in and fully engage all my pain and all my life !! Glory be to The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen!!
In the Love and Fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Fr. Mark+
The Reverend Father Mark Miller is rector of Church of the Resurrection CEC in Hemut, California.
CECHome.com is reporting that as of May 5 some 473people have registered for the upcoming International Convocation taking place July 30-August 1, 2008 in Orlando, Florida. Registrations are being received all the way up to time of convocation. But if you want to reserve a room at the Wyndham Resort, you have until the end of June to do so in order to receive the special convocation rate. Information is available at the 2008 Convocation Website.
This year St. Andrew’s will be participating in the Refuge Crisis Pregnancy Center’s Baby Bottle Campaign. This coming Sunday, Mother’s Day, we will be distributing baby bottles to the congregation to fill with change, bills, or checks. The bottles will be collected up on Father’s Day, June 15th. Monies collected will go to support the Refuge Crisis Pregnancy Center.
The stated mission of the Refuge Crisis Pregnancy Center is:
The vision of Refuge Pregnancy Center is to reach women in crisis pregnancies with the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and in deed. We want to provide accurate and complete information about both prenatal development and abortion.
We are delighted to a part of this wonderful agency and to help raise money in support of their ministry.
If you are not part of St. Andrew’s Parish and would like to donate to the Refuge Crisis Pregnancy Center you may do so by sending your gift to: Refuge Crisis Pregnancy Center, 1307 Milstead Ave., Conyers, GA 30012.
Joshua Burke, a seminararian living in Alabama, has just put together a new blogsite for St. Michael’s Seminarians. According to Joshua,
This is the new forum for the St. Michaels’ Seminary students. A place for contemplation, communications, and to share what we have learned. I saw a need for a way to communicate with my fellow seminarians, as we do not see each other often enough. Also a place we can discuss further the elements of our faith that we are learning.
Joshua intends to invite clergy, theologians, and students to contribute to the site in order to insure that the forum will be a place for lively discussion and thoughtful reflection on faith and ministry. If you are a seminarian or just interested in some theological discussion from a “convergence” perspective, check out St. Michael’s Seminary Forum.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
As a pastor, I can’t tell you how many times I have counselled people, “how you posture (present) yourself before God affects how God can work in your life.” By this I simply mean, if you expect God to be a part of your life, you have to be a part of His. One cannot expect God to answer prayer and move on one’s behalf if he or she continually chooses not to have anything to do with God until they are in need or crisis. It is not that God in His mercy will not move at times on our behalf even though we have been unfaithful or negligent in our personal walk with Him. But to expect God to bless us with favor which comes through obedience to His will and His ways without venturing the obedience is misguided. As in marriage so it is in our spiritual lives, if I don’t put the time in necessary to nurture a good marriage, I cannot complain in the end that it is somehow unfair that my marriage is on the rocks.
Another way to look at this is “how you pack says alot about where you are going.” A young lady in our congregation shared this analogy with me just recently. A cadet in her high school ROTC program, she shared with me that one of their drills was deliberately messed-up by some cadets who laughed and made light of their behavior. In response, her Marine drill instructor shared the above observation: “how you pack says alot about where you are going.” In other words, if I pack my swim trunks, sun block, shorts and t-shirts, it is a fair assumption I am going some place warm where I will be able to swim and enjoy the sun. If I pack my gloves, a hat, some sweaters, pants, and boots, you would be correct in assuming I am going some place cold or at least cool. How one prepares in life says alot about where they are going. To pack for the warmth of the beach and expect with those items to endure the cold of the mountains doesn’t make much sense. Yet, in spiritual matters, there are many who do just that. They live contrary to the will and ways of God expecting all along to be blessed as if they have been following as a faithful disciple. It doesn’t compute.
So what am I saying? Think about how you are living before the Lord. “Examine yourself,” as Paul admonishes us in 1 Corinthians 11:28. Maybe the reason God doesn’t appear to be leading and guiding your life, responding to your prayers and concerns, is because of what is in your suitcase. Let me ask you this. If we were to look would we see evidence of a faithful worshipper and disciple of Christ or of a nominal individual who is more interested in personal pursuits, interests, and desires rather than the will and ways of God. Believe it or not, it matters. Maybe its time to repack.
This Sunday, May 18th, we will end our Easter study of the Seven Sacraments with a talk on the Sacrament of Holy Orders. On May 25th, we will begin our Pentecost study on Life in the Spirit. 
This coming Sunday morning, Father Lem Anderson, curate, will continue our Via Salutis: Easter Series on the seven sacraments with a talk on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Fellowship breakfast begins at 9:00 am with class beginning at 9:15 am. Teens and adults study together. Corresponding classes are available for nursery age and children ages 5-12. Everyone is welcome. See you Sunday!
This year St. Andrew’s will be participating in the Refuge Crisis Pregnancy Center’s Baby Bottle Campaign. This coming Sunday, Mother’s Day, we will be distributing baby bottles to the congregation to fill with change, bills, or checks. The bottles will be collected up on Father’s Day, June 15th. Monies collected will go to support the 
