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November 29, 2004
ADVENT: COMING IN HUMILITY, COMING IN GLORY
The Holy Season of Advent symbolises the need to be ready for the two fold coming of Jesus. Jesus' coming in humility 2,000 years ago and His glorious Second Coming (The Parousia). The collect for the day sums up these two comings. This beautiful and moving prayer was written specifically for the The Book of Common Prayer (1549) by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer is addressed to the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and the themes reflected in the epistle and the Gospel, cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, and Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead
We need to be ready when He comes, found doing our duty faithfully. The following story is self explanatory--It's the story of Colonel Davenport, Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives back in 1789. One day, while the House was in session, the sky of Hartford suddenly grew dark and gloomy. Some of the representatives looked out the windows and thought this was a sign that the end of the world had come. An uproar ensued with the representatives calling for immediate adjournment. But Davenport rose and said, “Gentlemen, the Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.” Candles were brought and the session continued.
We need to be vigilant but avoid being paranoid or complacent. This is a period of reconciliation with God and neighbor, penance and preparation for His Coming. Will the Son of Man find enough faithfulness in us when He comes?
Posted by frleo at 9:35 AM
November 25, 2004
THANKSGIVING
What shall I be thankful to God for?
Life, love, family, friendship, the gifts and talents....
Let us be thankful to God for all that He has been and all that He is and all that He will be accomplishing for us in the future. He never ever leaves us. His kindness and mercy shall be always be there for us.
THANK YOU GOD: WE LOVE YOU
Posted by frleo at 6:16 AM
November 19, 2004
From our Presiding Bishop
DEARLY BELOVED:
I am often asked; does the UECNA belong to Forward-in-Faith or any of the groups within-without the Anglican Communion?
The answer is no!
We are not a part of any group, movement, or organization that is involved in anyway to re-establish, re-align, or re-organize either the Episcopal Church, The Anglican Communion or its member churches. We have no connection with anyone wishing to create new provinces, jurisdictions or re-alignments.
While we do have inner Communions with several organizations (church groups) who do, we do not as a church body accept or consider ourselves bound by agreements entered in by those groups.
Simply put; the UECNA has no desire to return to Egypt again.
A quarter century ago we chose to take the less popular way by deciding to remain faithful to the historic way as is set forth by the Prayer Book of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America 1928 edition. That usage keeps us firmly united, both in spirit and practice. We do not use either the American or English Missals or a cleaned up Rite II, not even the 1662 book is permitted.
You see, we are purists when it comes to worship. Oh sure, we contain a broad spectrum of liturgical practice, Chasubles, smell and bells etc. etc. But we believe the 1928 Prayer Book with its rubrics offers sufficient freedom and direction without using Sarum or an Episcopalized form of Vatican II liturgy.
Our worship reflects the historic orthodox Anglican usage that avoids extremes in churchmanship. We are neither medieval nor Methodist in practice. We believe in having integrity about counting actual numbers of both churches in this body and it's related Missions and Special Ministries. This count includes accuracy in the counting of actual communicant members, clergy and postulants.
We are very aware of who we are! We have never had to go to the courts of the land to tell us who, or what is, the UECNA. We have always practiced fairness in our dealing with the other members of the Continuum Family. We will not willingly start a work within the area that is already churched. We regularly invite people who call and are looking to seek out a church home to attend parishes belonging to other members of the continuum if we cannot provide a church home for them.
To those groups within the the continuum who claim exclusive connection to the Almighty because of certain usages - practices, we would remind them that our founder Archbishop Doren was the first bishop consecrated and that all the orders of the mainline continuum are from the Chambers connection through him.
We believe that Bishops are to be the Chief Shepherds - Pastors - Fathers in God to their flocks and are to be elected by the people they are to serve. They are not "MADE" as a sort of promotion, reward or as an honour for years in rank. Bishops are not to act, nor think like medieval Popes or dictators, nor as modern chairmen of corporate boards.
We see no reason to create nor be a part of any group, committee, movement, conference, synod, or faction that seeks to discuss, comment upon the degeneration of ECUSA, the church of England, the Anglican Communion or its hangers on. We have moved light years beyond all that and have no desire to continually read 'The Order for the Burial of the Dead' over a long ago dead church and communion.
We look to the future with promise knowing that our gracious Lord will keep His promises to all who serve Him faithfully.
"The Soul that to Jesus hath fled for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul though all hell shall endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake."
We invite all who are committed to the cause of Christ to join with us in worship and service.
The official publication of our church has as its mast head this title.
"Publish glad tidings: Tidings of peace,
Tidings of Jesus, Redemption and Release."
For more information about the UECNA please contact:
The Most Reverend Stephen C. Reber, Sr.
614 Pebblestone Ct.
Statesville. NC 28625
Phone (704) 871-0272
Posted by frleo at 2:48 PM
November 16, 2004
God Bless You For Your Love And Care!
Dearest Members,
Thought I could catch up with you all and THANK YOU for your kindness and love in helping us to relocate close to the church. Your pastor is only a phone call and a few doors away. We would love to see St.Gabriel's grow. Holly and I are dedicated to St.Gabriel's prosperity.
God has been gracious to us in so many little ways. Our family is glad that we are closer to the church, that is, closer to all of you. Our special thanks to Vicky and Matt Drachenberg for coordinating the effort and to all from Bella Vista -- The Vawters, The Crosses, The Critellis, The Drachenbergs -- also The Lays, our senior warden Ed Knox, The Johansons, The Websters, Walt Swindells and all those who have helped us in one way or the other.
May GOD bless you all.
Posted by frleo at 11:07 AM
November 2, 2004
November 2nd -- All Souls Day
WE REMEMBER OUR DEARLY DEPARTED ON ALL SOULS DAY.
We remember with gratitude all those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, especially two whom we lost within the past few months:
Peggy Swindells and J B Taylor
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpertual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen
Here is the tribute from Bill Winkleman to J B TAYLOR:
William Winkleman is the son of Bill and Pat Winkleman, who both played a great role in the beginnings of St.Gabriel's along with the founding members. His mother Pat is the head of St. Gabriel's Altar Guild. William fondly remembers J B Taylor.
Reverend and Dear Sir:Sorry that it has taken me so long to get around to your email.
Should you have the opportunity, please convey my deepest sympathies to
the Taylor family. I spent a lot of time with J B back in the days when we were moving St. Gabriel's to your present location. He did a lot or hard work for the Church, and despite many difficult and frustrating obstacles, J B Taylor always completed his objectives with an admirable and infectious "esprit de corps."I will always remember the day that I spent with him when we went down to buy the Church's pews at a federal auction. We rented a Ryder truck and drove several hours to our destination. I guess neither one of us realized just how heavy those pews would be. It was a job for which we should have had four men at a minimum. After loading the first couple of pews onto the truck, we were ready to quit. You would not believe how tired we were after loading all of them. J B was considerably older than I, and I was dead tired. We make the trip back to Fayetteville, and when J B dropped me off at our house the truck got stuck in the drainage ditch in the front yard. To make things even worse, J B threw his back out from all of the heavy lifting. As I remember, he was several weeks in recovering.
Once those pews were set up in the Church, most folks thought that the place was beginning to look like a "real" church for the first time. I had to admit that they were right, but even so, it was a year of so before J B or I could look at those pews without feeling a twinge of pain in our backs.
I remain, Reverend Sir, your faithful servant in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
William Winkelman
Posted by frleo at 7:29 AM