New era of Anglicanism in North America

The last two weeks have marked great events in the life of our congregation and in wider Anglicanism. First, the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)was officially established marking a major step toward the unity of Anglicans in the USA and Canada, but into union with the vast majority of the Anglican Communion throughout the world. We recognize that the two other significant segments of our tradition are taking steps toward the unity to which our Lord Jesus Christ has called us (the Traditional Anglican Communion and the Province of Christ the King). We are also saddened that “The Episcopal Church” continues to walk further apart from the “faith once delivered to the saints.” We have witness in the forming of the ACNA a commitment to work together for the mission of the Church, toward fuller communion, and in continuity with the life and practice of the faith grounded in Holy Scripture. Robert Duncan was elected Archbishop of this new province of the Anglican Communion by the College of Bishops who represent nine founding Church bodies and various jurisdictions, nationally and internationally. Our own bishops, Richard Boyce and Win Mott, have worked these past years toward the unity of Anglicanism. When Anglicans claim they have no doctrines unique to Anglicanism, but only holding to what was received and practiced by the whole of the Church, in all times and in places and by all, we must actualize this reality in a visible unity in Jesus Christ.

Second, Alpine Anglican Church of the Blessed Trinity hosted the parishes of the Diocese of the West (Reformed Episcopal Church, and now Anglican Church in North America) for its annual gathering for the mission and work of the diocese. The three keynote addresses were on the place Youth as young participants in today's ministry as disciples of Jesus Christ, the prayer book teaching and practice of healing of individuals, for their being made whole and complete human beings, and the future for continuing the greater unity of the Church. We were able to see friends from past Synods and meet folks from new congregation in the diocese. We were especially blessed to have a group from Saint Andrew’s Academy providing music for Mass and Evensong worship. Their group include a couple of graduates, several residential students and even a couple of the boarding school students. What was evident throughout the Synod was how as Anglicans the prayer book embodies our Anglican identity in North America. While we don’t identify with a specific prayer book as a whole, although most use the 1928, we have inherited a form and shape to our common worship. Whether we look to the 1549 BCP, the Sarum Missal, or even a modern language form, we have a “North American” usage which reflects our history as a prayer book Church. As Bishop Boyce pointed out, “the prayer book is only a tool.” Worship is at the center of our being members of the Body, our growing in discipleship, our ministering to one another, and our mission to the world. It is our common prayer tradition that pull it all together. Much of the discussion, formally and informally, revolved around how we make Christ known to others and for Anglicans we come together, in common prayer, to encounter God present. It was interesting to note that in the ACNA our diocese has the highest percentage of earned doctorates among its clergy, but our discussion was about spiritual growth and mission, knowing Christ and making Christ known.

National Day of Prayer

This coming Thursday is the National Day of Prayer. Saint Paul tells us we should pray for those in civil authority. Specifically we pray for our leaders that they would uphold what is godly and right. As President Obama stated last week in Turkey, we no longer live in a Christian country. All the more reason we should ask God to intervene in the lives of our elected leadership that principles of what is good and right might convict our leaders to stand not for some political ideology, but for a greater good.
Yes, we have an economic downturn and a growing debt burden being placed on the coming generations; we have a swine flu epidemic and loss conscious clauses threatening our health providers; we have unemployment and uncertainty. But as Christians we pray that God's hand might shape the course of our government and our nation, that we, the people of the United States, might fulfill God's purpose nationally and locally. Not just for the first 100 days of a new presidency, but for the generations that come after us.
The tendency of our government, the tendency as individuals is to think short term. As Christians we offer our prayer, our intercession on God's terms--eternity. Tomorrow we have the opportunity to ask God to conform the wills, the actions, and the minds of this country to His eternal purpose.

Passover

When Jesus and the 12 Apostles gathered in the Upper Room at the start of the Passover, it was clear this wouldn't be as every other Passover the 12 had grown up with in their Jewish homes.
Jesus began by washing the feet of the Apostles. Most of these men had not likely had their feet washed by someone since their mother or sibling had done for them as a child. They were not likely to have had servants to do this for them. So Jesus whom they have followed, who has taught them during the past three years, whom they've come to know as the promised Messiah, does this service, kneeling at their feet. What came to their minds? The picture of a King laboring over commoner's feet? Or was it the love of a parent for the child, of a friend for a friend? The image is not pointing to service, but service pointing to the Love of God.
Our Deacons and our Deaconesses in their visible acts of service provide an icon of Christ and His demonstration of Love. They are visible images pointing to the Love of God. And each of us is to point to the Love of God in our own service. Yes, we expect our diaconate to embody "service in the Name of Christ," but it is to inspire each of us, lay minister or bishop, to point others to the Love of God.
Unleavened bread, broken before the meal and share by all not recalling their being in slavery and bondage in Egypt, was taken by Jesus. Jesus didn't use the words everyone knew and expected, "This is the bread of affliction." But Jesus broke it saying, "This is my Body." He broke it, and gave it. God's freeing the Apostles from bondage and slavery was being accomplished in Jesus' very body and they would share in that new freedom. Though they undoubtedly didn't understand that evening, they came to understand it was sin and death from which they would receive in this Passover.
After supper Jesus took the Cup of Elijah, which looked to God sending the spirit of Elijah to prepare for the coming of the Messiah prophesied in Malachi. This cup was never picked up and drunk from, it was not shared. When Jesus took the cup saying, "This is my Blood." There was no mistaking that the way had been prepared for the coming Messiah. The blood of Passover was the sign marking the doors of the Hebrews in Egypt and the sacrifice for being restored to a right relationship with God. In His blood, Jesus' would make the perfect sacrifice with the perfect offering.
Today, on this Maundy Thursday, we are reminded this is a new covenant with a new commandment, a covenant in the Body and Blood of the perfect sacrifice of God's own Son and in sharing in that communion we are to point to the Love of God in all that we do.

Knowing the our neighbors: Why won't they believe?

When we become Christians we are called out of the world, into the Church (ek-klesiaout+called), into the family of God. We talk with our Church friends about things that are truly important in our lives. While our lives engage those of the world, we like being at home, in the comfort zone.
So we need to be reminded to whom we bring the message of God's gift of eternal life: those who are of the world; those whose view of the world tends to be quite different from those "called out."

• Two-thirds believe truth is realitive to the individual and the circumstance. It is no wonder life feels like it is shifting underfoot and unpredictable.



• Two-thirds don't believe Evil has a reality beyond an idea, a concept. There is no choice to participate, enter into, or follow Evil.



• Three-quarters believe their good works or good behavior earns them a place in eternity. It isn't on any authoritative source, but a feeling that "it just seems right."



• Half to two-thirds believe perfection is not possible and Jesus could not have been without sin.



• Interestingly, more than two-thirds believe in a God that is all-powerful and an all-knowing Creator who still rules today.

It is this last point that we have a common ground with those "of the world." If we are to bring the Gospel to this age rocked or shattered by a world recession or depression which gives no hope, we begin with this Creator God, who loves His creation, and has made Himself known in the person of Jesus. This is the door to their seeing that God has a purpose and a plan for them. While the Mosaic generation (18-23 year olds) may not hold a biblical worldview, they are interested in nature (outdoors) and the enviroment. They still have a sense of awe looking at our world as they also have little hope in humanity.
This is a time of great opportunity for our making Christ known with our friends of the world. Keep this in mind as you read through the latest Barna Research paper on what people in the USA believe today. [The Barna Reseach Group is one of the leading surveyors of religious opinion in the USA.]

Read "Changes in Worldview"

So knowing this, how are be shaping our Outreach to reach those who believe in a Creator and have no knowledge of Him?

Christians Stand For Life

God put before His people life and death. He says "Choose life!" It is the choice we must make and not get distracted by political maneuvering. God's Word, no matter how difficult, needs to frame our stance as Christians.


For Christians to say that last week's decision for the USA to fund international groups performing abortions is a disappointment doesn't begin to address our culpability in this massive genocide. In a society that is fanatic about the quality of life of our livestock, we are failing miserably to address the loss of human life occurring at a pandemic rate. A civilized society is measured by its ability to protect those who can not protect themselves, and it is most clearly seen in how it cares for its children and its elderly. Clearly the problem isn't the human life of the unborn child! The problem may be about effective contraception, sex education, teen pregnancy, and a whole host of real problems, but the life of the unborn. While clearly Holy Scripture sees life beginning at conception, we argue about definitions of embryo, fetus, viable, and other dividing lines terms which can't diminish the reality that we are talking about human life).


Honestly, I don't know of anyone who says abortion is good. If that is the case, we are saying it is the lesser of two evils, the killing of the unborn or what? It is the "what?" we have failed to wrestle with, to treat as problems and therefore having solutions. For Christians, life does not belong to us, our own or another's. Life and all of creation belongs to God. It isn't ours. We don't create the stars, sky, and oceans. We don't create children. Instead Christians understand that we live, move, and have our being, as a gift from God. We don't have a divine right, only an invitation to enter into God's creation process or to reject it. As Christians "choice" is set before us, life or death, to be with God or apart from Him. We need to choose life, not because we "must obey." No, we choose life so we might share in God redemptive, recreative love, and be the means by which God's love is brought into our "real problems."


This is a time for us to cry out to God as we are culpable for our actions as a society. We have failed to address the real problems and have chosen a great evil. We need to cry out to God because we've failed as Christians, as a moral country, as a civilized society. With our wealth, we are multiplying our failure and inflicting it upon the poor of this world. As Christians we've failed even to look at the problems, not to mention our call to serve, to be the means by which God ministers to those in distress, those suffering from "unspeakable" problems. My life, and I'm sure your life, is directly touched by these real problems. An unborn life is treated as the identified problem. But Life isn't a problem. We need to look to the real problems. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. For the real problems we need to bring God's love to the hurting, the pained lives of those suffering because of these problems. We don't care enough!


As we've failed to address the real problems, we have much for which we need to repent. We've failed to bring the power of God to bear upon, not the abortion clinic or agencies, but upon the suffering and tragedy of lives that need God's love. There is no room for religious "holier than thou" attitudes. As Christians we personally know our own sinfulness and how much we need God's help and forgiveness in our lives. And we've failed to share that power of God's love, even though we know how much we need it daily in our own lives. We have loved too little. Lord, have mercy upon us. Save us, help us with thine almighty hand!



And on the lighter side...Let's have a look a the weather forecast:

State of our Mission

We are truly blessed at Church of the Blessed Trinity! As our name embodies the love of God seen between the persons of the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we too have spent the last three years to embody in our congregation the true love of God. Our time, energy, and resources have been caring for a nice building, although we have a more than adequate place to worship together on Sundays and during the week. We've not been looking to meeting our budget, God has provided for us at every turn. We've not even been looking to fill the pews, or chairs, because instead of these things we've been learning and putting into practice making the love of God in Jesus Christ known to people beyond our fellowship.

We are at a place where our Mission is helping people meet Jesus Christ. Working around the "holy hardware" and passing out bulletins isn't fulfilling the Great Commission ("go out into all the world...Matt. 28). Having others know that "no one comes to the Father, but by Him" is at the center of what we do. The love of God was so great that the Son of God would come to earth to be seen, heard and known. Our Mission is to love those we go out to meet that Jesus might be seen, heard, and known.

This past week I was at the Napa Clergy Retreat hosted by the Diocese of the West. Bishop Fredrick Fick was the presenter and led our discussion on how our congregations develop to be churches whose life is fulfilling the Great Commission. Bishop Fick started four church plants himself and now has oversight in other church plantings. What became clear was the extensive preparation required for the church plant team, the training, shifting from the old establishment mode of a member bringing someone to know Jesus Christ once every 38 years. With the mode you'll be burying more than the number you bring to know Jesus.

If you look back, we have a new sense of our Mission for Jesus Christ. We've had to relearn, rethink, even think outside the box, including giving new meaning to church in a box. The reality for us today is we're about the people and not the steeple. Today things of the steeple can easily be changed out, new locations found, and our efforts are on God changing our lives, new people discovering there is hope, there is new life in Jesus.

We have our work before us, the fields are ripe for harvest living in California where over 50% of our neighbors are unchurched; where our State government is issuing IOU's; where people have lost jobs, secure retirements, and their homes; where the Generation Y folks don't see much promise and much hope. We have much to do. They need hope in their broken, hurting lives. And we know the hope that changed our own lives--the Love of God made known to us, in our lives, Jesus. Jesus is the song of hope we sing; the sound of abundant life filling the emptiness; the voice saying "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you; Seek and ye shall find."

God has been preparing us during these past 3 years to be in this place, at this time, and with every member prepared, trained, confirmed for this Mission field. In looking back three years it is amazing how much growth I've seen in all of our members. We've studied Holy Scripture more; we've prayed more; we've reached out more than I had thought was possible. And the good news, yes, the Good News, our vision, our hope, our mission has grown much larger. We want to see and make seen the love of the Blessed Trinity, not only in our lives, but in the lives the store clerk, the student at the next desk, and the parent next to us at the ball game or concert. We are truly blessed!

Annual Meeting January 25, 2009 at 10:00am

While we meet monthly as a whole congregation to plan our mission work, we meet once a year to formalize our elected board members (Vestry) and to approve our budget for Mission. This year we enter the new year with the Anglican Church in North America actually springing into existence--yes, faithful Anglicans who are not dividing, and separating, but building and uniting.

The Manifest Christ

Generations waited for God to fulfill His promise of sending one who would bring the messianic kingdom. We celebrated the "God made manifest" in the incarnation. We now shift to joining the magi who having seen His light and returned bringing the light of Christ into the darkness of this world.

Fortunately we don't have to pursuade or argue, most of who want to be pursuaded or argue are interested more in the arguement than being touched by God. It is God who prepares and makes ready the hearts who are ready to recieve Him. We are called to do two things: to let the light of Christ be seen in our lives, in our loving those around us with divine love given to us in Christ Jesus; and second, to be ready to give a witness for our hope in Christ. Making love incarnate and then telling how we recieved that love into our lives.

Big Intro for the FTGC

The new Free Teen Guitar Class has a full roster this January. We've got 10 beginning guitarists who will be having their first performance on February 1st. Adding our new guitarists to the intermediate and advanced students should make for a great summer concert.

Diocesan Clergy Conference

Our Diocese of the West (REC) clergy will be gathering in Napa next week. While we are hoping to do some wine tasting along the way, the bishops, priests, and deacons will be enjoying a time of prayer, fellowship, and theological discussion (perhaps over a wee bit of port and cigars in the crisp night air of the Napa Valley). I may or may not be able to post the Alpine Anglican Thursday Evening News--because the Carmelite monestary doesn't have WiFi access. But I'm sure to have some news to share with you upon my return.