A minister was approached by a man who wanted to join the church. “But,” the man said, “I have a very busy schedule. I can’t be called on for any service, such as committee work, teaching, or singing in the choir. I just won’t be available for special projects or to help with setting up chairs or things like that. And I’m afraid I’ll never be bale to go on visitation, as my evenings are all tied up.”
The minister thought for a moment, then replied, “I believe you are at the wrong church. The church you are looking for is three blocks down the street, on the right.”
The man followed the preacher’s directions and soon came to an abandoned, boarded up, closed church building. It was a dead church – gone out of business.
-borrowed from Christ Community Church, Winter Haven aplacetobelong-dot-com
Friday, March 03, 2006
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Friday after Ash Wednesday, 2006
Support us, O Lord, with thy gracious favor through the fast we have begun; that as we observe it by bodily self-denial, so we may fulfill it with inner sincerity of heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Eucharistic Lectionary:
Psalm 51.1-10
Isaiah 58.1-9a
Matthew 9.10-17
Is 51.1 "Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest." KJV
Lent has begun. We are fully involved. It is so very easy at the beginning of this penitential season to be resolute, to maintain our fasting and extra intentions in prayer.
But, God requires much more than a good beginning. If we are to fully access his Divine Mercy, we must be consistent in keeping a good Lent. Our prayers must be more intentional, less scattered. Oh, I know how easy it is to let ourselves be distracted from prayer and merciful works; but think of the joy that can be ours as we come to the end of Lent, to the Great Vigil and know that we, like Paul, have kept the faith, we have run a good race, we have finished the course.
Look to the Psalmist, in verse 10 and 11, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy holy presence: and take not thy holy spirit from me."
Eternal God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, hear us today, draw us close to you, inspire us to keep our vows for Lent, help us to remember our the true reason for keeping this holy penitential season; draw us ever closer to you and to your Christ, and give us your Peace in Him. Amen.
Eucharistic Lectionary:
Psalm 51.1-10
Isaiah 58.1-9a
Matthew 9.10-17
Is 51.1 "Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest." KJV
Lent has begun. We are fully involved. It is so very easy at the beginning of this penitential season to be resolute, to maintain our fasting and extra intentions in prayer.
But, God requires much more than a good beginning. If we are to fully access his Divine Mercy, we must be consistent in keeping a good Lent. Our prayers must be more intentional, less scattered. Oh, I know how easy it is to let ourselves be distracted from prayer and merciful works; but think of the joy that can be ours as we come to the end of Lent, to the Great Vigil and know that we, like Paul, have kept the faith, we have run a good race, we have finished the course.
Look to the Psalmist, in verse 10 and 11, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy holy presence: and take not thy holy spirit from me."
Eternal God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, hear us today, draw us close to you, inspire us to keep our vows for Lent, help us to remember our the true reason for keeping this holy penitential season; draw us ever closer to you and to your Christ, and give us your Peace in Him. Amen.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Lenten Studies at St. Francis Mission
St Francis Mission, of the Anglican Mission to South Dakota, announces a Lenten Study Series, to be held at the Mission, meeting at 346 South Chicago Street, Hot Springs SD, twice each Sunday, at the 11:00 am and 6:30 pm services.
The series will begin the First Sunday of Lent, March 5, 2006,and continue through the Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday), April 9, 2006, and will address in detail the 39 Articles of Religion of the Anglican Church; and the three historic Creeds of the Church, the Apostle's, Nicene, and Athanasian, according to the Rev. Charles Johnson+, cj, missioner for the Anglican Mission to South Dakota.
For further information: respond on this blogsite, e-mail sdanglican@gwtc.net, or phone Br Chip+ at 605+745-5586.
The series will begin the First Sunday of Lent, March 5, 2006,and continue through the Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday), April 9, 2006, and will address in detail the 39 Articles of Religion of the Anglican Church; and the three historic Creeds of the Church, the Apostle's, Nicene, and Athanasian, according to the Rev. Charles Johnson+, cj, missioner for the Anglican Mission to South Dakota.
For further information: respond on this blogsite, e-mail sdanglican@gwtc.net, or phone Br Chip+ at 605+745-5586.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Welcome to The South Dakota Anglican
We serve in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota to restore a 're-emergent' traditional Anglican presence, with a 'twist', among the disenfranchised Episcopal, Anglican, Catholic, and Lutheran peoples of South Dakota, who are interested in a return to the old liturgy, with a serious thrust of biblical preaching..
As ordained clergy in the Anglican Province of Christ the Good Shepherd, and the Diocese of St. Paul the Apostle, and as a professed Third Order Franciscan, of the Company of Jesus, we are committed to the simple life, serving those who are hurting in any way, working in the hospitals and jail, and with the truly disenfranchised and homeless, to bring them spiritual and physical comfort in this life by clothing and feeding them, and a hope for the future by 'preaching as Francis preached...sometimes using words'.
The Anglican Mission to South Dakota seeks no more than "to reach and to teach in the Name of Jesus Christ" through the use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, the 1979 Prayer Book, either rite, or the Anglican Service Book. Scripture may be the Authorized (King James) Version, the New King James, the Revised Standard or the New Revised Standard.
We presently operate 'house-churches' in several communities in western South Dakota, but are comitted to receiving congregations into fellowship as missions or parishes, and re-opening or otherwise providing sacramental coverage for congregations closed and abandoned by their ecclesial authority from the Nebraska panhandle into North Dakota.
All real and personal properties of each mission or congregation is held by that mission, none devolves to any higher authority, and all clergy in the Province are 'non-stipendary', which simply means, we support our selves by our outside labors, and all offerings and receipts are used for the support of the mission of Christ.
We are tithers; ten percent of individual family income goes to the congregation for mission and operating expenses; and of that, ten percent of the tithe goes to the diocesan office in Dallas for travel and mission expenses, leaving each congregation ninety percent of their collections to be use for the spread of the Gospel in each locale.
We are also strongly mission oriented. Each mission or congregation is encouraged to be proactive in their own greater community, and for each member to have a lay apostolate in the Name of Jesus, to truly reach and to mediate the needs of our neighbors (Mt 22.37-40) as we pattern our lives after St. Francis of Assisi.
We welcome any inquiries, referals, or comments, as we seek to serve our Lord, Jesus Christ.
News articles are solicited, please, no copywrited material without the author's permission.
Pax Christi †,
Charles Johnson+, cj
Missioner
sdanglican@gwtc.net
As ordained clergy in the Anglican Province of Christ the Good Shepherd, and the Diocese of St. Paul the Apostle, and as a professed Third Order Franciscan, of the Company of Jesus, we are committed to the simple life, serving those who are hurting in any way, working in the hospitals and jail, and with the truly disenfranchised and homeless, to bring them spiritual and physical comfort in this life by clothing and feeding them, and a hope for the future by 'preaching as Francis preached...sometimes using words'.
The Anglican Mission to South Dakota seeks no more than "to reach and to teach in the Name of Jesus Christ" through the use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, the 1979 Prayer Book, either rite, or the Anglican Service Book. Scripture may be the Authorized (King James) Version, the New King James, the Revised Standard or the New Revised Standard.
We presently operate 'house-churches' in several communities in western South Dakota, but are comitted to receiving congregations into fellowship as missions or parishes, and re-opening or otherwise providing sacramental coverage for congregations closed and abandoned by their ecclesial authority from the Nebraska panhandle into North Dakota.
All real and personal properties of each mission or congregation is held by that mission, none devolves to any higher authority, and all clergy in the Province are 'non-stipendary', which simply means, we support our selves by our outside labors, and all offerings and receipts are used for the support of the mission of Christ.
We are tithers; ten percent of individual family income goes to the congregation for mission and operating expenses; and of that, ten percent of the tithe goes to the diocesan office in Dallas for travel and mission expenses, leaving each congregation ninety percent of their collections to be use for the spread of the Gospel in each locale.
We are also strongly mission oriented. Each mission or congregation is encouraged to be proactive in their own greater community, and for each member to have a lay apostolate in the Name of Jesus, to truly reach and to mediate the needs of our neighbors (Mt 22.37-40) as we pattern our lives after St. Francis of Assisi.
We welcome any inquiries, referals, or comments, as we seek to serve our Lord, Jesus Christ.
News articles are solicited, please, no copywrited material without the author's permission.
Pax Christi †,
Charles Johnson+, cj
Missioner
sdanglican@gwtc.net
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