The New Year 2006

-- We are in the process of updating our website, please check back frequently --

Schedule for week of January 1st

A Season of Fervent Prayer

As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, the Primates of the Anglican Communion will be meeting in the Kanuga Conference Center, North Carolina, beginning the second of March. At this time they will consider what steps need be taken to bring the ECUSA back into step with the rest of Anglicanism throughout the world. Within the past year the leadership of the ECUSA has thumbed its collective nose at the rest of the Anglican world by mandating acceptance of the innovation of women in priestly and episcopal orders and by sanctioning sexual immorality among both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Additionally, they have tossed out some two thousand years of apostolic succession by implementing the Concordat between the ECUSA and the ELCA.

The Rev. Dr. Peter Toon, advisor to several Primates and current president of the Prayer Book Society, has proposed the following spiritual preparations for the Primates’ meeting. The future of Anglicanism in the USA may hang on what happens in this meeting. It is of the first priority that we dedicate ourselves in prayer that God’s Holy Will be done through the actions to take place in Kanuga.

Dr. Toon’s suggestions follow:

The Call of the Holy Trinity to faithful Anglicans/Episcopalians.

I commend to all Episcopalians/Anglicans, who are deeply concerned about the state of the Anglican Way of Christianity in North America the following proposal of a Season of Prayer and Fasting to last for eight days in early March and to coincide with the Anglican Primates' Meeting at Kanuga, North Carolina.

We are all familiar within Sacred Scripture of the commandments and promises of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ concerning constancy in prayer, praying with fasting, and praying in the Holy Spirit. We all know that God has ordained effectual, fervent prayer to be a major means of the growth of His kingdom and the revival of His Church. Further, in self examination well know that we do not spend sufficient time with the Lord in prayer. I hardly need to state that the Primates' Meeting will assemble as a crisis develops within the Anglican Communion concerning (a) the relation of provincial autonomy to provincial interdependence, and (b) the limits of diversity in doctrine and morals, worship and discipline permitted in any diocese or Province. We are all aware that the ECUSA is one Province which has done much to create and exacerbate this crisis, but guilt is shared with others. In March the Primates are being asked by some of their number to develop their corporate pastoral and headship role in order to create ways and means by which truth can be preserved, error banished, and the unity of the Communion maintained.

What I am proposing is the following:
1. That there be a season of fervent prayer beginning at dawn on March 2nd and running until dawn on March 9th.
2. That this season of fervent prayer [of praise, thanksgiving, confession, petition and intercession] be offered to the Father through the incarnate Son and by/with the Holy Spirit on the basis of what is made known of this our God and His will for His Church in Sacred Scripture.
3. That one or more parishes take responsibility for each 24 hour period so that there is a continuing season of praying for the whole period in many churches. Further that these parishes be both within the ECUSA and within the Continuing Anglican Jurisdictions, the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Mission in America.
4. That all committed and concerned Episcopalians/Anglicans add extra time from March 1 to March 9 to their recital/praying of the Daily Offices to make special intercession for the Primates Meeting.
5. That suggestions for themes and forms of prayer for parishes and individual persons (based on Holy Scripture and the classic 1662/1928 BCP and the ECUSA 1979 Prayer Book) be published.

Historic Joint Affirmation Signed Between
Forward in Faith North America and AMiA

By David Virtue

An historic joint statement between Forward in Faith, North America (FIFNA), the Episcopal Church's oldest and largest traditionalist organization, and the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) was agreed to here today (January 20), setting the tone for future integrated action on both sides.

The joint statement reads thus:

"Forward in Faith, North America and the AMiA affirm their unity in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, their continuing intercession for the meeting of the Primates of the Anglican Communion in March 2001, and their mutual commitment to work together for the establishment of an orthodox jurisdiction in North America which is recognized as part of the Anglican communion."

"Everyone is excited,'' said the FIFNA spokesman, "and it is hoped that it will create a more effective role for the restoration of Anglican orthodoxy. It means we are on the same page of the worldwide Anglican Communion."

St. Barnabas Parish is a member of Forward in Faith, North America.

A Holy Lent

“I invite you in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer and fasting and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.”

With these words we are drawn into the season of preparation for the Paschal Mysteries known as Lent. We are called to step aside from our ordinary occupations-to make sacred time out of secular-in order to more worthily celebrate the Easter season.

A complete schedule of Lenten events will be included with the March newsletter. To assist you in your planning, take note of the following special services. Plan now to take advantage of these opportunities of grace, and make this Lent one of great spiritual growth.

Ash Wednesday February 28, 2001

12:10 p.m. Low Mass with Imposition of Ashes
6:30 p.m. High Mass with Imposition of Ashes.

Fridays in Lent 7:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross and Benediction

"Hey, Cookie- I’m a Hungry"

Beginning on Friday, March 9th, the famous (or perhaps infamous) St. B’s Pasta Bars will make their reappearance.

For a nominal fee you, your family and friends, can dine on the finest Lenten fare in town. Choices of pastas and sauces vary weekly-all are yummy. And the proceeds go to help the parish fund special projects.

To make this effort a success, we need your help. Too often we get a very good turnout from non-parishioners (thank God) but fail to see a lot of familiar faces. Additionally, we make a lot of money off the desserts which are donated. If you can help serve, provide desserts or help in the kitchen your talents are needed.

Plan now to take your Friday night meals in Lent with your family and friends at St. B’s. Then, stay for Stations of the Cross. Food for the body as well as the soul. What a deal!

St. B’s Pasta Bar Friday, March 9 and 23, April 6 Serving from 5 ‘til 7