The New Year 2006

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Schedule for week of January 1st

Ecclesia Anglicana

Since last month’s consecration of two bishops to attend to the spiritual needs of traditional members of ECUSA’s flock, there has been much discussion of the action in both ecclesiastical and secular press. We can all welcome the fact that this action has caused people to talk about the problems in the ECUSA (despite the fact that the Presiding Bishop continues to refer to it as the "purported 'crisis'"). I am afraid, though, that there are those who would have us see the problems in the American Church as focused on a single issue: that of human sexuality.

We at St. B’s will not be led to believe that all of the problems within ECUSA can be pinned on the single issue of sexuality. Our long history has proven that gays and straights can live and worship together in Christ-like love. Every member of St. Barnabas parish is treated as equal in the sight of God. Before the aweful Face of Him Who is All-Holy, each of us is known to be what we truly are, a sinner in need of the redeeming power and love of our Divine Savior, Christ Jesus. In this parish Church reconciliation is offered to all through the Saving Body and Blood sacrificed for the redemption of the world.

I would repeat that the prime issue facing the Anglican Communion is one of authority. Does one jurisdiction of Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church have the authority to strike out in new and heterodox areas without damaging the rest of the Body? Can a church claim to be Catholic and not respect the Catholic authority of Holy Scripture, the ancient creeds, the teachings of the early Fathers?

The Ancient Church understood authority as being vested in the Sacred Scriptures and interpreted these to the Church through the Councils of her bishops. Whenever one Church wandered into erring paths she was corrected, in Council, by her fellows, doctrine was further defined and the whole Church then moved on in even greater obedience to Her Lord’s command to go into all the world offering the message of Salvation.

The American Church, on her own, has deigned to "correct" the Church Catholic on the nature of the ordained Ministry, is planning on redefining the meaning of Apostolic Succession by "temporarily" suspending the Ordinal, continues to raise-up bishops who deny the divinity of Christ, the Virgin Birth and our Lord’s Resurrection and who preach myriad other heresies from Anglican pulpits without any fear of discipline or retribution.

The American Church continues to wander into paths unknown to orthodox Anglicanism. She is being called back to her roots by other parts of the Church. Yet, in her stubborn pride, she refuses to hear these prophetic calls and claims a superior knowledge, not based on the Word of God, but on the word of man. If she cannot be turned back from her erring, prideful ways, we pray that there will be provision made for those of us who cannot in conscience continue along these many untried paths.

Pray for the Church.

Lent begins this year about as late as possible. Ash Wednesday falls on March 8th. On that day there will be two Masses with imposition of ashes at both.

What better way to begin this time of preparation for the joyful mysteries of Easter than by kneeling humbly before the Lord, acknowledging our sinfulness and brokeness before Him and promising 40 days of fasting and death-to-self in order that we might rise with Him on Easter Day.

If it’s Ash Wednesday on March 8, it must be Shrove Tuesday the night before!

Come join your fellow parishioners for a fabulous feast of light and fluffy rectorial hotcakes the night before Lent begins.

Bring your Palms from last year to be used to make Ash Wednesday’s ashes.

It is our custom here at St. B’s to make intercessory prayer by personal name. During the prayer for the whole state of Christ’s Church you may hear name after name of those being prayed for or those giving thanks. While it may become tedious from time to time to hear those names, I must tell you that the prayers offered in the Mass before the Throne of God are very powerful. Many persons have received answers to their supplications when they were prayed for at this altar.

While I am not allowed to share with you all the details of healings and prayers answered, I assure you, there are many. There is no greater thing we can do for each other than to pray one for the other. If you have names of sick, grieving, lost relatives and friends, consider having their names put on the intercession list.

With Lent’s arrival, I would suggest taking on the discipline of praying for those on the intercession list on a daily basis. Our prayers are highly effectual - to God be the praise.

Fr. Jack Kilby, retired associate of St. Andrew’s parish, will offer mediations on "The Mighty Acts of God" at a Lenten Quiet Day sponsored by the Daughters of the King. A simple, soup lunch will be provided as part of the day.

While the Daughters are sponsoring this event, participation is in no way limited to members of this group. Fr. Kilby is a fine speaker and holy priest. Each and every one could profit from attending this Quiet Day.

We will once again offer these dinners to the community-at-large as a means of promoting interest in and awareness of St. B’s existence. While they do raise a bit of money, their main purpose is to give us exposure to the greater community.

For this reason it is crucial that you invite relatives, friends, neighbors, co-workers to these meals.

We can also use volunteers to work the meals and donations of baked goods to sell at the dessert table.

Serving begins at 5:30