We have been contracted by the South Dakota Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs and by the Michael J. Fitzmaurice South Dakota State Veterans Home to serve as a 'relief Chaplain', filling in for the regular Chaplain, serving both as occasional protestant minister for the weekly wervice, and as an on-call person for crises within the facility when weather or personal conflicts occur. . Since the staff Chaplain lives in Rapid City, there are many instances when 'stat' services are required.
We are pleased to have been asked to serve, particularly since we had applied for the position several years ago when an old friend from the Church of God in Colorado, from years ago, Richard Bershon, retired and recommended us as his replacement.
It has been hard to accept 'retirement' after we had to close our mission last year, and this has given a spark of hope for continued ministry. We have returned to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Hot Springs, in order to receive the Mass in community and fulfil our Franciscan obligation; but cannot serve there in any ordained capacity.
In addition, our Franciscan/Benedictine Order, the Company of Jesus, has undergone some severe changes over the past year, and I am now a 'solitary Franciscan'.
Pray for us, for our retreat center (still in planning stages), our Franciscan walk, and for this new ministry.
Fr. Chip
Monday, June 15, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Prayers for Lent
Please join us in praying about the possibility of acquiring a home for an early(8:00) Sunday Mass, 1928 liturgy. We are hoping to be able to start by the first Sunday of Lent, in either the Episcopal Church, the Roman Church, or the SDA Church in town.
Fr. Chip
Fr. Chip
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
E-mail change
In an effort to reduce our outlay, we have dropped our DSL and dial-up acocunts.
Therefore, [sdanglican@gwtc.net] is no longer valid, instead, we have gone back to basics...sdanglican@excite.com...is our new e-mail home.
Thanks,
Fr. Chip
Therefore, [sdanglican@gwtc.net] is no longer valid, instead, we have gone back to basics...sdanglican@excite.com...is our new e-mail home.
Thanks,
Fr. Chip
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Fourth Sunday in Advent
“Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you…”
Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at His coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen.
- Book of Common Prayer, 1979
Alleluia. I am the servant of the Lord: may His will for me be done. Alleluia
In today’s Gospel, we find the Lukan account of the visitation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, to announce the birth of the Christ. Verse 26, ‘In the sixth month…’, the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist, Gabriel was sent to Nazareth to visit Mary, betrothed to Joseph, to announce to her that the Christ would be born of her, even though she was a virgin (not just a young maid, as in some newer translations), …’You have found favor with God…you shall conceive after the Holy Ghost has come upon you…you shall bear a child and call His Name Jesus. He will be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High…and He shall rule over the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.’
What a heady message…even today this would be a shocker to a young girl, about to be married. What would today’s modern, enlightened, empowered young lady do at such a message? Would the Christ be just another statistic of abortion, would He perhaps be left at the police station or the local hospital? Would the world ever know that He had been born, if He were to come as a babe again today?
Mary’s response, found in verse 38, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done in me according to your word.’ should be our response; but would we, could we respond in such a manner? Or would our false sense propriety kick in and cause us to number our Lord among the lost millions of fetal catastrophies?
In Mary’s day, premarital knowledge and adultery were stoning offenses. How easy it would have been for her to seek out a person to help her ‘tend to her difficulty’. How simple to say, ’No’ to God and let Gabriel pass on by. But she did not, she accepted the gift that was offered to her and to the world through her, and allowed the workings of God to continue.
We have the same power over God that Mary had…we can, and often do, say, ‘No’ to God, sometimes daily. As we expect Him this Advent, may we be ever ready to just say, ‘Yes Lord, Your will be done in my life.’
In His Name,
Fr. Chip
Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at His coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen.
- Book of Common Prayer, 1979
Alleluia. I am the servant of the Lord: may His will for me be done. Alleluia
In today’s Gospel, we find the Lukan account of the visitation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, to announce the birth of the Christ. Verse 26, ‘In the sixth month…’, the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist, Gabriel was sent to Nazareth to visit Mary, betrothed to Joseph, to announce to her that the Christ would be born of her, even though she was a virgin (not just a young maid, as in some newer translations), …’You have found favor with God…you shall conceive after the Holy Ghost has come upon you…you shall bear a child and call His Name Jesus. He will be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High…and He shall rule over the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.’
What a heady message…even today this would be a shocker to a young girl, about to be married. What would today’s modern, enlightened, empowered young lady do at such a message? Would the Christ be just another statistic of abortion, would He perhaps be left at the police station or the local hospital? Would the world ever know that He had been born, if He were to come as a babe again today?
Mary’s response, found in verse 38, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done in me according to your word.’ should be our response; but would we, could we respond in such a manner? Or would our false sense propriety kick in and cause us to number our Lord among the lost millions of fetal catastrophies?
In Mary’s day, premarital knowledge and adultery were stoning offenses. How easy it would have been for her to seek out a person to help her ‘tend to her difficulty’. How simple to say, ’No’ to God and let Gabriel pass on by. But she did not, she accepted the gift that was offered to her and to the world through her, and allowed the workings of God to continue.
We have the same power over God that Mary had…we can, and often do, say, ‘No’ to God, sometimes daily. As we expect Him this Advent, may we be ever ready to just say, ‘Yes Lord, Your will be done in my life.’
In His Name,
Fr. Chip
Friday, December 05, 2008
Second Sunday of Advent
Second Sunday in Advent
7 December 2008
Mark 1:1-8
“Make ready the way of the Lord…”
This week we look at two of the forerunners of Our Lord Jesus Christ; the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, and the first cousin of Christ, John the Baptist, foretelling of the ministry and suffering of the Lord, as recorded by Mark in his Gospel.
All of mankind shall see the salvation of God, provided through the merits of His Son, Jesus; but we will have to wait for His benefits to be fulfilled in and for us. And why not, we are willing to wait for other expectations in life…a good mate, children, job satisfaction, etc., etc. Why not wait for the Lord? Advent is a season of waiting, a season of penitent expectation. The word advent means preparation or coming, and that is exactly what Christians should do during this pre-Christmas period; we prepare our lives for another visit from His Grace through the Nativity.
The Gospel text for the Second Sunday of Advent, taken from the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. Mark, opens with the announcement by John, quoting from Isaiah 40.3, “…Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Our comment is simply this: In your own life, in your own family, in your own community…prepare the way for the Lord…make a place in your life for Jesus, the King of Glory; because no one else can! Only you can prepare your heart to receive Him afresh this coming Christmas season.
In His Name,
Chip+
7 December 2008
Mark 1:1-8
“Make ready the way of the Lord…”
This week we look at two of the forerunners of Our Lord Jesus Christ; the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, and the first cousin of Christ, John the Baptist, foretelling of the ministry and suffering of the Lord, as recorded by Mark in his Gospel.
All of mankind shall see the salvation of God, provided through the merits of His Son, Jesus; but we will have to wait for His benefits to be fulfilled in and for us. And why not, we are willing to wait for other expectations in life…a good mate, children, job satisfaction, etc., etc. Why not wait for the Lord? Advent is a season of waiting, a season of penitent expectation. The word advent means preparation or coming, and that is exactly what Christians should do during this pre-Christmas period; we prepare our lives for another visit from His Grace through the Nativity.
The Gospel text for the Second Sunday of Advent, taken from the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. Mark, opens with the announcement by John, quoting from Isaiah 40.3, “…Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Our comment is simply this: In your own life, in your own family, in your own community…prepare the way for the Lord…make a place in your life for Jesus, the King of Glory; because no one else can! Only you can prepare your heart to receive Him afresh this coming Christmas season.
In His Name,
Chip+
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Advent 1, 2008
First Sunday in Advent
30 November 2008
Mark 13:24-37
The Parable of the Fig Tree
Now learn a lesson from the fig tree; as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you recognize that summer is near. (v.28 – Amplified Bible)
As we look toward the season of Christmas, beginning with this first week of Advent, we reflect on our lives, on those events of the past weeks, months, and year; we read that Jesus himself has just given us a list of signs of the times in the beginning verses of the Sunday Gospel…But in those days after [the affliction and oppression and distress of] that tribulation …which he mentions and enumerates in the verses preceding… the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the power of the heavens will be shaken. (v. 24, 25)
And THEN (26),… and THEN (27),… NOW learn (28).
Our Lord told the Parables for shock value; to move the hearers to action; to shake them (us) out of lethargy. This Parable of end time events should have moved His hearers to change their lives in such a manner that their lives would conform to the standards of God and Scripture. You would think so, wouldn’t you?
Well they didn’t. The majority of the good citizens of Jerusalem, exercising a true democracy, ruled a short time after this teaching was given, and the Christ was accused, condemned, and crucified. They failed to understand His teachings, just as we also misunderstand and ignore His Word today.
Back to the Gospel, v 29and 36,37, So also, when you see these things happening, you may recognize and know that He is near, at the very door…[Watch ,I say] lest He come suddenly, and unexpectedly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to everybody: Watch (give strict attention, be cautious, active, and alert).
Advent, the season of expectation, the season of preparation, that time in the Church year when we focus our attention on both the Christ who is about to come, as well as the Christ who has already come and given a written record of His expectations for us. As we enter the joyous season of Advent and Christmas, may we truly examine our lives in the light of His Word; may we make proper preparation for Him in our lives.
Fr. Charles Johnson
St. Francis Anglican Community
sdanglican.blogspot.com
890-2313
30 November 2008
Mark 13:24-37
The Parable of the Fig Tree
Now learn a lesson from the fig tree; as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you recognize that summer is near. (v.28 – Amplified Bible)
As we look toward the season of Christmas, beginning with this first week of Advent, we reflect on our lives, on those events of the past weeks, months, and year; we read that Jesus himself has just given us a list of signs of the times in the beginning verses of the Sunday Gospel…But in those days after [the affliction and oppression and distress of] that tribulation …which he mentions and enumerates in the verses preceding… the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the power of the heavens will be shaken. (v. 24, 25)
And THEN (26),… and THEN (27),… NOW learn (28).
Our Lord told the Parables for shock value; to move the hearers to action; to shake them (us) out of lethargy. This Parable of end time events should have moved His hearers to change their lives in such a manner that their lives would conform to the standards of God and Scripture. You would think so, wouldn’t you?
Well they didn’t. The majority of the good citizens of Jerusalem, exercising a true democracy, ruled a short time after this teaching was given, and the Christ was accused, condemned, and crucified. They failed to understand His teachings, just as we also misunderstand and ignore His Word today.
Back to the Gospel, v 29and 36,37, So also, when you see these things happening, you may recognize and know that He is near, at the very door…[Watch ,I say] lest He come suddenly, and unexpectedly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to everybody: Watch (give strict attention, be cautious, active, and alert).
Advent, the season of expectation, the season of preparation, that time in the Church year when we focus our attention on both the Christ who is about to come, as well as the Christ who has already come and given a written record of His expectations for us. As we enter the joyous season of Advent and Christmas, may we truly examine our lives in the light of His Word; may we make proper preparation for Him in our lives.
Fr. Charles Johnson
St. Francis Anglican Community
sdanglican.blogspot.com
890-2313
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
And on we go!
Since June, we have visited several different congregations, ECLA, LCMS, Weslyan, and Episcopal; as well as served as supply for a small (very small) UMC congregation out on the prairie.
We have been invited to read, but nothing else at TEO.
We are praying seriously about the situation on the Pine Ridge Mission which has been reported by Stand Firm and the Northern Plains Anglican...the gist of which is that the TEO bishop here in South Dakota has decided to close nine reservation missions. The tribes own the land, and if we can help, we will, most definitely!
Pray for us, and them...especially since some on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud have been out of home for a week and will likely be out another week before power is restored following Wednesday's freak blizzard.
Chip+
We have been invited to read, but nothing else at TEO.
We are praying seriously about the situation on the Pine Ridge Mission which has been reported by Stand Firm and the Northern Plains Anglican...the gist of which is that the TEO bishop here in South Dakota has decided to close nine reservation missions. The tribes own the land, and if we can help, we will, most definitely!
Pray for us, and them...especially since some on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud have been out of home for a week and will likely be out another week before power is restored following Wednesday's freak blizzard.
Chip+
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Only God Can Heal a Broken Heart
My brother priest in Sioux Falls, Fr. Timothy Fountain, posted this a few moments ago on the Northern Plains Anglican blogspot:
He, and his family, and his congregation, are hurting, as are we because his is the problem of the square peg in the round hole. It will never fit right, it will either chafe at the edges or be too loose to stay in. Sadly, the Anglican Communion, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, have decisions to make, and soon (like midnight, September 30, 2007) if the greater Communion is to be saved from the folk who would so dilute the Word of God, the traditions of the fathers, and the religious practice of 2000 years, to call 'sin' 'NOT sin', to say the Creed is an option, that the Ten Commandments were only suggestions, that the Christ is but one of many ways to the divine, etc., etc., etc.
While you think of your own congregational problems, please remember Timothy Fountain, in his words,
That it may please thee to succour, help, and comfort, all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
Son of God, We beseech thee to hear us.
January 23rd will be my twentieth anniversary as a priest. When it comes to questions about staying in TEC or getting out, the blogs are full of commentary by folks I respect and upon whose ideas I can’t improve.His heart is breaking, and mine as well. You see, we've never met; Fr. Fountain came into South Dakota from the Diocese of Los Angeles, after I had made my decision to leave the Episcopal Church -- so we never crossed paths at convention, Convocation, ministerial weekends, summer seminary, or any of the other many diocesan ministerial gatherings. We have swapped comments and e-mail for almost four years, we have talked on the phone, I have been to Evening Prayer at Good Shepherd in April, but he was at the hospital with his wife, and I missed him.
He, and his family, and his congregation, are hurting, as are we because his is the problem of the square peg in the round hole. It will never fit right, it will either chafe at the edges or be too loose to stay in. Sadly, the Anglican Communion, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, have decisions to make, and soon (like midnight, September 30, 2007) if the greater Communion is to be saved from the folk who would so dilute the Word of God, the traditions of the fathers, and the religious practice of 2000 years, to call 'sin' 'NOT sin', to say the Creed is an option, that the Ten Commandments were only suggestions, that the Christ is but one of many ways to the divine, etc., etc., etc.
While you think of your own congregational problems, please remember Timothy Fountain, in his words,
“While” we wait for what’s next, we rely on what Scripture tells us: God does not need us to force a particular outcome. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And it is on the cross – the one that TEC rejects but that still “towers over the wrecks of time”- where God will always show his love for us, wherever we are.his wife, and their sons, as well as their present congregation, Good Shepherd, Sioux Falls, one of very few conservative, orthodox congregations in South Dakota in the Episcopal Church.
That it may please thee to succour, help, and comfort, all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
Son of God, We beseech thee to hear us.
Friday, July 27, 2007
My Former Bishop (John Howe, Central Florida) Makes a Reasoned Response for the Present Unpleasantness
"I am doing absolutely everything I can – and have done so for eighteen years – to uphold “orthodoxy,” to remain faithful to the Lord and to the scriptures, to call this oh-so-compromised Church back to its own heritage. But I will not break the rules to do so. I am working "within the system" for a comprehensive solution to a complex situation. These efforts can be easily undermined by precipitous actions, and I urge us to be very careful."+John Howe, Diocese of Central Florida, in a letter to the diocese.
There have been many comments made, pro and con, about the stances of the 'Windsor Bishops" in the Episcopal Church. They are 'toadying to the Executive Council', they are selling out the traditional Anglicans in their sees, they are hellbent on destroying the Church, etc., etc., etc.
In this letter from +Howe, we see the anguish that must reside in these men of God, as they try to preserve not only their diocesan clergy and congregations, their call within the Episcopal Church, their responsibilities to their individual families, but also their responsibility to obey God.
These are truly perilous times, the 'times that try men's souls', and we must prayerfully support our shepherds (those who are still in TEC) and those of us who have already left the Titanic, must be willing to uphold those who are seeking the will of God, the 'right way' to lead their charge into Glory, for these men, all of them, are the shepherds of the Church of God, responsible not only to God, but to their people as well, and charged with not only maintaining order and keeping intact the trust properties of generations of faithful Episcopalians (Anglicans), but also of preserving the faith, and leading the way to Canaan, out of the 'Wilderness of Sin'.
Pray for them NOW, and TOMORROW, and the DAY AFTER, and so on, und so vetter. They truly stand in the gap and must be upheld in their agony.
O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace; Give us grace seriously to lay aside the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever may hinder us from godly union and concord: that as there is but one Body and one Spirit, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one God and Father of us all, so may we be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the unity of God's People -- BCP 1892
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Three Square Meals -- Spiritually Speaking
"Part of the problem in our modern society is an absence of personal responsibility. We are all aware of the person who sued a fast food restaurant because the coffee was too hot.
And we have also all heard how restaurants and junk food producers are to blame for obesity in America. As if they are forcing us to eat, or overeat.
Or how about the crying over high gas prices, all while we drive “mileage-challenged” trucks, vans, and SUV’s?
But has that same lack of personal responsibility crept into the church?
From Destination God, my elder son's personal ministry website, comes this timely and extremely pertinent discourse on life in these United States (and the world at large!).
"Many times people will leave churches because they claim they are not “being fed”. That there is not enough “meat” in the sermons.
Some people leave a church because the Bible studies and small groups are not “deep enough”. Again, not enough meat. They are not being fed."
Can that be said of our sermons, of your sermons? Is there enough substance of the Savior in Sunday's homilies to whet the appetite of a seeker...and are not we all seekers? Are any of us justified, are any righteous?
I was told once, by a bishop who shall remain unnamed, that I was too 'pentecostal' to ever be able to minister in the Episcopal Church. I actually take that as a positive comment, because I have heard him 'preach' on several occasions, and there was no life in it.
To flip the coin, I was also told by a leader in the Church of God in Tampa, where I ministered for four years, that I was still too much of an Episcopalian to preach in the Church of God. Well, I took that as a compliment also.
Perhaps now that I am an Anglican priest, and an 'evangelical Anglo-catholic' at that, neither of these comments can apply, since I am neither one or the other; but, my preaching has not changed in over thirty years of ministry! I still and did always, preach Christ and Him crucified for us, to save us from the effects of our sins.
Yes, I know, it should be 'from our sins', but the effect upon us of a sinful and unrepentant lifestyle has only one end...eternal separation from the presence and peace of God...known for centuries as hell until the 'new theological revolution' took control in TEC and other mainline churches in the mid twentieth century!
And, yes, today there are many liturgical clergy and leaders who deny the existence of hell (and heaven), that they are merely allegories to reinforce a point of 'living good', being 'inclusive', since
"God really is not going to make anybody go to THAT PLACE, is He?"Scripture has only one admonition for you, if you find yourself being 'fed' such (or feeding such), "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you..." II Cor 6.17,18.
Read all of Tim's piece, and apply it to your exhortations and congregations, and see if your efforts measure up. And if you appreciate his web page, let him know it.
Amen, kyrie eleison.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Thoughts on the Sixth Sunday after Trinity
Tomorrow's 1928 BCP Gospel, from the fifth chapter of Matthew, beginning with verse 20, speaks of righteousness, forgiveness, and 'giving over' to your adversary. In the reading, Jesus speaks of a person being angry with a (his) brother without a cause being in danger of the same judgement to be meted out for murder.
There are many sermon topics in the lesson for the day, but I would like to dwell on one of them that is often misunderstood, or even omitted from exposition.
Jesus speaks of reconciling with a wronged (or wronging) brother...before coming to the altar to worship with our gifts, with our alms and oblations, with our selves, our souls and bodies, that reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice that He demands of us.
Those who yet remain in the Episcopal Church can, if they really try, see themselves in the latter verses of this lesson setting...'Agree with thine adversary quickly...lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the magistrate (officer), and thou be cast into prison'. We can apply that teaching to the discussion, debate, and litigiousness that is overtaking the congregations of the Episcopal Church in dioceses after diocese, as bishops and standing committees, chancellors and diocesan and provincial administrators are bringing suit against faithful Anglican congregations who have, in most cases, paid for their properties, paid for all improvements, paid all utility bills, salaries, assessments and askings...all without help from diocesan or general funds (of course that does not apply to DioSD, since over half of the diocesan budget is underwritten by the general church offices and coffers). These suits are to 'reclaim' the properties that the dioceses and the general church contend are 'rightfully theirs' through the so-called Denis Canon and the hierarchical structure of the Episcopal Church in the United States.
Of course, when there is a 'new thing' that some parish priest wishes to experiment with, at the cost of the faith and practice of the parish or mission, the general church morphs instantly into a congregational structure, similar to the Baptists, so the reappraising clergy can implement their insidious changes without fear of sanction from the diocese or general convention, or even reprisals from the Anglican Communion at large directed towards TEC for their 'innovative stance' on sin, among other things; but when it comes to property and endowments, the Episcopal Church is locked up tighter than Dick's hatband in an hierarchical mode, one that would put the magisterium of Rome to shame..
In the latest rounds of debates, the TEC leadership have stressed their 'freedom' from the accepted practices and doctrinal stands of the greater Anglican Communion, and gone on and did it their way, blithely ignoring the pleas of the Primates of the Communion to stop their innovative changes to the faith once delivered.
All of that to say this...There are 'hard times' coming for the faithful. The House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, and the chancellors and standing committees of several dioceses, of the Episcopal Church are moving at flank speed to wrest away the hard earned and hard fought for properties of faithful local congregations. And they will win! Except the Lord change their hearts and minds; civil courts are beginning to turn from their previous judgements and side with the bishops and standing committees in property disputes.
What Jesus is telling His Church in tomorrow's Gospel, is to leave...leave it all behind and start afresh. Yes, it hurts to leave the 'place' where you have raised your families, buried your dead, baptized and married your children...but it is just a place, and no place is worth losing your soul over. God's children cannot, must not, allow the adversary to steal their joy in the Lord, their victory over sin, so hard fought for in the past...just over a pile of bricks (or in our part of the world, sandstone). God is still God, whether we worship in a cathedral or a shack, in a lovely Gothic building or a rented school auditorium, in a brick Georgian or in a garage. God is still God, and His presence is with His children.
The closing line in the Gospel may be prophetic,
There are many sermon topics in the lesson for the day, but I would like to dwell on one of them that is often misunderstood, or even omitted from exposition.
Jesus speaks of reconciling with a wronged (or wronging) brother...before coming to the altar to worship with our gifts, with our alms and oblations, with our selves, our souls and bodies, that reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice that He demands of us.
Those who yet remain in the Episcopal Church can, if they really try, see themselves in the latter verses of this lesson setting...'Agree with thine adversary quickly...lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the magistrate (officer), and thou be cast into prison'. We can apply that teaching to the discussion, debate, and litigiousness that is overtaking the congregations of the Episcopal Church in dioceses after diocese, as bishops and standing committees, chancellors and diocesan and provincial administrators are bringing suit against faithful Anglican congregations who have, in most cases, paid for their properties, paid for all improvements, paid all utility bills, salaries, assessments and askings...all without help from diocesan or general funds (of course that does not apply to DioSD, since over half of the diocesan budget is underwritten by the general church offices and coffers). These suits are to 'reclaim' the properties that the dioceses and the general church contend are 'rightfully theirs' through the so-called Denis Canon and the hierarchical structure of the Episcopal Church in the United States.
Of course, when there is a 'new thing' that some parish priest wishes to experiment with, at the cost of the faith and practice of the parish or mission, the general church morphs instantly into a congregational structure, similar to the Baptists, so the reappraising clergy can implement their insidious changes without fear of sanction from the diocese or general convention, or even reprisals from the Anglican Communion at large directed towards TEC for their 'innovative stance' on sin, among other things; but when it comes to property and endowments, the Episcopal Church is locked up tighter than Dick's hatband in an hierarchical mode, one that would put the magisterium of Rome to shame..
In the latest rounds of debates, the TEC leadership have stressed their 'freedom' from the accepted practices and doctrinal stands of the greater Anglican Communion, and gone on and did it their way, blithely ignoring the pleas of the Primates of the Communion to stop their innovative changes to the faith once delivered.
All of that to say this...There are 'hard times' coming for the faithful. The House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, and the chancellors and standing committees of several dioceses, of the Episcopal Church are moving at flank speed to wrest away the hard earned and hard fought for properties of faithful local congregations. And they will win! Except the Lord change their hearts and minds; civil courts are beginning to turn from their previous judgements and side with the bishops and standing committees in property disputes.
What Jesus is telling His Church in tomorrow's Gospel, is to leave...leave it all behind and start afresh. Yes, it hurts to leave the 'place' where you have raised your families, buried your dead, baptized and married your children...but it is just a place, and no place is worth losing your soul over. God's children cannot, must not, allow the adversary to steal their joy in the Lord, their victory over sin, so hard fought for in the past...just over a pile of bricks (or in our part of the world, sandstone). God is still God, whether we worship in a cathedral or a shack, in a lovely Gothic building or a rented school auditorium, in a brick Georgian or in a garage. God is still God, and His presence is with His children.
The closing line in the Gospel may be prophetic,
'Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing'.If that is the case, Child of God, come out from among them with rejoicing, that your names are written down in His book, rather than the annals of the adversary.
O God, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man's understanding; pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for the Day, 1928 BCP
Friday, July 13, 2007
Recovery...Begins At Last!
Things are almost back to normal in Fall River County South Dakota; the Alabaugh Canyon fire is 100% contained, the Type 2 Wildfire crews will leave town tomorrow, people are getting back to their business, foundations are being cleared and houses planned. Many of the burned out victims have moved back on their properties in campers while they clean up, and begin to rebuild, not only their homes, but their lives.
There were something over 500 persons at David Beeman's memorial services yesterday, Morris Nelson, UMC pastor of the United Churches, preached a good salvation message, the Masonic committal services were impressive (even though I have been a funeral director in a major Masonic area years ago, I had NEVER seen the Masonic ritual, the Masons in the funeral homes always sent us 'gentiles' on other calls).
Total containment costs will run over $2.6 million, thirty three homes were destroyed, one civilian death, and three hospital injuries sustained by firefighters. One of the benefits of the Alabaugh was the level of cooperation and compassion shown by the residents of the greater Hot Springs area, as they banded together, served meals, assisted in the shelter, arranged for child care, clothing and household goods...and animal care for pets and livestock, some volunteers got fireline passes to go in and feed and water stock while the fire crews were occupied fighting hot spots.
As I drove through the fire ground Tuesday after the roadblocks had been lifted, I was taken by the nature of this fire...extremely intense in one spot, and adjacent to a hard burn, a stand of pines, still in full needle, grass without a mark. One house down to the foundations, with nothing visible of the house that once was, and the attached carport standing with an unharmed vehicle within.
One man reported to me yesterday of going home on Saturday night after the fire had started to really take off, looked around his trailer, saw no sign of any fire at all, took off his boots and sat in his living room, heard a loud 'whoomp' from his bedroom, went back and saw a large flaming mass eat its way through the floor after coming through his roof. Another 'whoomp' from the front, and his trailer was afire. He left...quickly.
As I saw his trailer on Tuesday, it was surrounded by untouched dry, cured buffalo grass...totally destroyed, melted into an unrecognizable mass of aluminum, with a three step set of stairs rising from the ground in front of it.
The Alabaugh Canyon Fire, as horrifying as it was, may serve to teach us better wildland practices and policies, particularly relating to the former practice of knocking down every wild woods and grass fire as it starts. If the Alabaugh Canyon area had been allowed to burn in a prescribed manner years ago, as some of the residents had asked, there would not have been the copious amounts of tinder dry fuel available, combined with our seven years of drought and a very active thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon, to let it become the most intense fire ever in South Dakota. Fire and forestry officials have taken that under consideration, and a change in fire management and prevention policy for all government woodlands and grasslands may be the outcome. If so, the Alabaugh Fire was, in a way, worth it.
I spoke to a firefighter friend, whose wife is still on the scene with their rural volunteer department, within whose territory the Alabaugh Canyon fire started, and who were the first responders Saturday night, who has been released from duty, and is now driving through the burn zone, matching people with the resources they need to begin putting it all back together. In his words, "I have to heal myself, I am full of 'crap', and this is the only way I can work that out of my system".
All in all, as we get back to our lives, we in Hot Springs and Fall River County are grateful to all who gave of themselves for us; those who prayed for a moderation of the weather and the fire behavior; those who worked unceasingly for our benefit.
To God be the Glory, great things He has done! We are grateful to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for those who grown closer to Him through this ordeal by fire, and we expect to see great signs of His blessing in the lives of those in our commuity, and in the life of our community. We have grown closer, more tolerant of others and their foibles, more mindful of their needs and desires.
There were something over 500 persons at David Beeman's memorial services yesterday, Morris Nelson, UMC pastor of the United Churches, preached a good salvation message, the Masonic committal services were impressive (even though I have been a funeral director in a major Masonic area years ago, I had NEVER seen the Masonic ritual, the Masons in the funeral homes always sent us 'gentiles' on other calls).
Total containment costs will run over $2.6 million, thirty three homes were destroyed, one civilian death, and three hospital injuries sustained by firefighters. One of the benefits of the Alabaugh was the level of cooperation and compassion shown by the residents of the greater Hot Springs area, as they banded together, served meals, assisted in the shelter, arranged for child care, clothing and household goods...and animal care for pets and livestock, some volunteers got fireline passes to go in and feed and water stock while the fire crews were occupied fighting hot spots.
As I drove through the fire ground Tuesday after the roadblocks had been lifted, I was taken by the nature of this fire...extremely intense in one spot, and adjacent to a hard burn, a stand of pines, still in full needle, grass without a mark. One house down to the foundations, with nothing visible of the house that once was, and the attached carport standing with an unharmed vehicle within.
One man reported to me yesterday of going home on Saturday night after the fire had started to really take off, looked around his trailer, saw no sign of any fire at all, took off his boots and sat in his living room, heard a loud 'whoomp' from his bedroom, went back and saw a large flaming mass eat its way through the floor after coming through his roof. Another 'whoomp' from the front, and his trailer was afire. He left...quickly.
As I saw his trailer on Tuesday, it was surrounded by untouched dry, cured buffalo grass...totally destroyed, melted into an unrecognizable mass of aluminum, with a three step set of stairs rising from the ground in front of it.
The Alabaugh Canyon Fire, as horrifying as it was, may serve to teach us better wildland practices and policies, particularly relating to the former practice of knocking down every wild woods and grass fire as it starts. If the Alabaugh Canyon area had been allowed to burn in a prescribed manner years ago, as some of the residents had asked, there would not have been the copious amounts of tinder dry fuel available, combined with our seven years of drought and a very active thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon, to let it become the most intense fire ever in South Dakota. Fire and forestry officials have taken that under consideration, and a change in fire management and prevention policy for all government woodlands and grasslands may be the outcome. If so, the Alabaugh Fire was, in a way, worth it.
I spoke to a firefighter friend, whose wife is still on the scene with their rural volunteer department, within whose territory the Alabaugh Canyon fire started, and who were the first responders Saturday night, who has been released from duty, and is now driving through the burn zone, matching people with the resources they need to begin putting it all back together. In his words, "I have to heal myself, I am full of 'crap', and this is the only way I can work that out of my system".
All in all, as we get back to our lives, we in Hot Springs and Fall River County are grateful to all who gave of themselves for us; those who prayed for a moderation of the weather and the fire behavior; those who worked unceasingly for our benefit.
To God be the Glory, great things He has done! We are grateful to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for those who grown closer to Him through this ordeal by fire, and we expect to see great signs of His blessing in the lives of those in our commuity, and in the life of our community. We have grown closer, more tolerant of others and their foibles, more mindful of their needs and desires.
May the God of all mercy attend to the needs of His children here and eleswhere as we all seek to serve Him. Amen.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
We Have Been a Bit Occupied
We apologize for failing to post lately, but if you will click on the link of the title, you will see that we have been a trifle busy this week.
We were privileged and humbled to serve as Incident Chaplain for the Alabaugh Canyon Wildfire Containment effort, working through the American Red Cross at the shelter and information center; but also, on the lines with the almost 500 firefighters from across the eastern Rocky Mountain region, as they fought the worst and hottest wildfire in South Dakota history, with over 10,000 acres consumed, and cantainment at only 40% at present, and some active fire still in the canyon country only three miles southwest of Hot Springs.
There was only one fatality, David Beeman, a friend of ours and son of a brother and sister in the Lord, Billy and Marilyn Beeman, who were also from St. Luke's Hot Springs; several fire crew injuries, as the fires danced and acted plumb 'squirelly' at times; over thirty homes destroyed or severely damaged; yet, miraculously, many homes and lives spared, even though they were under an immediate evacuation order, issued at 2-4 am Sunday morning.
We boarded some of the evacuees animals in our kennel, and worked from Sunday morning through today with the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, and several private crisis counseling organisations to provide grief counseling and an ear to listen.
I will be back in blogland by next week, following the final community meeting tonite, funeral tomorrow, and a bit of rest before Sunday starts it all over again.
Thank God for the effectual fervent prayers of many of you whom we have contacted through comments on some of your blogs...you have meant so much to us, and we love you all.
We were privileged and humbled to serve as Incident Chaplain for the Alabaugh Canyon Wildfire Containment effort, working through the American Red Cross at the shelter and information center; but also, on the lines with the almost 500 firefighters from across the eastern Rocky Mountain region, as they fought the worst and hottest wildfire in South Dakota history, with over 10,000 acres consumed, and cantainment at only 40% at present, and some active fire still in the canyon country only three miles southwest of Hot Springs.
There was only one fatality, David Beeman, a friend of ours and son of a brother and sister in the Lord, Billy and Marilyn Beeman, who were also from St. Luke's Hot Springs; several fire crew injuries, as the fires danced and acted plumb 'squirelly' at times; over thirty homes destroyed or severely damaged; yet, miraculously, many homes and lives spared, even though they were under an immediate evacuation order, issued at 2-4 am Sunday morning.
We boarded some of the evacuees animals in our kennel, and worked from Sunday morning through today with the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, and several private crisis counseling organisations to provide grief counseling and an ear to listen.
I will be back in blogland by next week, following the final community meeting tonite, funeral tomorrow, and a bit of rest before Sunday starts it all over again.
Thank God for the effectual fervent prayers of many of you whom we have contacted through comments on some of your blogs...you have meant so much to us, and we love you all.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Testimony from Montana
Known as 'Eclipse' in blogdom, a dear Anglican friend has published the summarized testimony of her past year's journey on the Montana Anglican
I recommend that ALL former and present Episcopalians read, mark learn and inwardly digest her observations on her journey.
"What has my family lost and gained this past year? Where are we going?"The questions she asks, and the answers she gives could and should fit each of us as we seek our way through the jungle that was TEC, searching for the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak.
I recommend that ALL former and present Episcopalians read, mark learn and inwardly digest her observations on her journey.
O Gracious Father, we humbly beseech thee for thy holy Catholic Church; that thou wouldst be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Him who died and rose again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Another One Bites the Dust
One of my favorite blog authors has parked his mouse. Fr. Alvin Kimel, late of Pontifications, has after prayer, decided to give up his rightful place as one of the best theological blogs in the blogsphere.
Fr. Al kept us up to date on his journey home, after the General Convention 2003, and the consents for and installation of VGR in the Diocese of New Hampshire, as he prayed through and made a full trip, one way, across the Tiber.
His heartbreak was palpable as one read his postings, including this quote in his fairwell blog entry:
Fr. Al, we will miss you, but we earnestly pray that you will find peace and comfort for your self and your family as you continue your journey. Our memories will remain, our prayers are your, our hearts are breaking as well.
Go in peace, Brother Kimel, in the power of His resurrection Glory, to love and serve the Lord. We shall truly miss the Pontificator.
Fr. Al kept us up to date on his journey home, after the General Convention 2003, and the consents for and installation of VGR in the Diocese of New Hampshire, as he prayed through and made a full trip, one way, across the Tiber.
His heartbreak was palpable as one read his postings, including this quote in his fairwell blog entry:
“Are you in pain, Frodo?”but then, interspersed with the hurt and sorrow, were some of the most clear and deep theological expositions I have ever read.
“Well, yes I am,” said Frodo. “It is my shoulder. The wound aches, and the memory of darkness is heavy on me. It was a year ago today.”
“Alas! There are some wounds that cannot be wholly cured,” said Gandalf.
Fr. Al, we will miss you, but we earnestly pray that you will find peace and comfort for your self and your family as you continue your journey. Our memories will remain, our prayers are your, our hearts are breaking as well.
Go in peace, Brother Kimel, in the power of His resurrection Glory, to love and serve the Lord. We shall truly miss the Pontificator.
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