The New Year 2006

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Schedule for week of January 1st

Anglican World News

In past editions of this organ we have discussed the problems of orthodox Anglicans living within the heterodoxy of the Episcopal Church as it exists today. One of the options discussed was a second province for the U.S.A., authorized by and in communion with Canterbury.

In March, the Primates of the Anglican Communion will meet in Kanuga, North Carolina, to discuss the state of the Communion. One of the items slated for discussion will undoubtedly be the formation of a new North American province-whether it be called such or less-formally constituted as a union of orthodox parishes served by non-geographic, “flying” bishops.

Since the past General Convention ordered the ecclesiastical equivalent of “SWAT” teams into the three Dioceses which maintain the historic all-male priesthood and other facets of the Catholic faith, the rest of the Anglican world has looked with interest at what other sorts of “corrective actions” might be foisted upon orthodox parishes by the revision-minded leadership of the ECUSA. The Primates have promised assistance to these parishes, even if they must cross provincial boundaries to do so.

While the Presiding Bishop, much to the chagrin of some of his purple-clad brothers and sisters, has recently soft-pedaled the ramifications of the “task forces” scheduled to visit the three “recalcitrant” Dioceses, the gathering Primates will undoubtedly see through this false attempt to demonstrate that traditional Anglicans in the USA are under no threat and are treated with the same respect as their ultra-liberal co-religionists.

The Primates are preparing a working document for their March meeting entitled, “TO MEND THE NET: ANGLICAN FAITH AND ORDER IN RENEWED MISSION.” Topics discussed in this volume range from the nature of Discernment & Reception, the form of Authority appropriate in Provinces and in the whole Communion, the Limits of Diversity, Autonomy & Interdependency, the place of Formularies, the Authority of Scripture, & the use of the dogma of the Holy Trinity in ecclesiastical strategies.

Future issues of The Parish Messenger will bring further information on this critical gathering of Bishops and the issues before them. We pray that the Holy Spirit will “lead them into all truth, with all truth.” Only when the Church unflinchingly acknowledges Jesus Christ as Her sole Lord and Savior and bows in humble submission to His Holy Will can we put an end to the internal strife which has distracted us from our mission and return to the business of bringing women and men into Christ’s glorious Kingdom.

King Charles the Martyr

A commemoration service to recall the martyrdom of King Charles will be held on January 27th. The service will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Beheaded on January 30, 1649, King Charles I of Great Britain chose to die rather than allow the office of bishop to be abolished in the Church in England. Thus, he chose to die for the very apostolic succession that has linked Anglicanism to the New Testament Apostles. King Charles I is the only person to be declared a saint by the English Church since the Reformation.

The service will consist of a Mass with Morning Prayer serving as the Liturgy of the Word. Music will include works by Orlando Gibbons, Richard Farrant and Adrian Batten.

A reception will follow. The service is sponsored by local members of the Society of St. Charles the Martyr and the parish.

Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of St. Barnabas’ Parish will be held on Sunday, January 21 after the 10:00 Mass.

A parish potluck will precede the meeting. Rather than assigning dishes according to alphabet, just bring a favorite dish to share (since everyone is going to bring their favorite dish anyway!) The main meat course will be provided by the parish.

The Blessing of Homes

It has long been a pious custom among Christian households to have their homes blessed during the season of Epiphany. The Book of Occasional Services (priest’s manual) contains the order for this rite.

Please let the rector know if you would like to have your home blessed during this Epiphanytide.

The Christian Challenge

Several people have renewed their subscriptions to The Christian Challenge through the church’s bulk subscription. Doing thusly accomplishes several things: 1. You will receive a national and international news magazine with solidly orthodox reporting. 2. You will be getting it at a ten percent discount. 3. The church receives free, national advertising with a bulk order of at least 15 copies.

If you haven’t already renewed your subscription or if you would like to begin to receive this magazine, advise the Rector of your intent.