241229 AOC Sunday Report

            Anglican Orthodox Church_sm                                        

Worldwide Communion

First Sunday after Christmas

Sunday Report

 

 

The First Sunday after Christmas – December 29^th, 2024

 First Sunday after Christmas Propers: 

The propers are special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of England in the 1540’s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of Canterbury after the re-founding.

 

The Collect for the Day is to be read on Sunday and during Morning and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday. The Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various Epistles, or letters, in the New Testament. The Gospel is a reading from one of the Holy Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect is said by the minister as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated reader (as we do in our church) or by one of the ministers and the Holy Gospel, which during the service in our church is read by an ordained minister.

 

The propers are the same each year, except if a Red-Letter Feast, that is one with propers in the prayerbook, falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read instead, except in a White Season, where it is put off. Red Letter Feasts, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks the titles are in red, are special days. Most of the Red-Letter Feasts are dedicated to early saint’s instrumental in the development of the church, others to special events. Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day is to be used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent or Lent. The Propers for today are found on Page 104-105, with the Collect first:

 The Collect for the First Sunday after Christmas

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

 The Epistle for the First Sunday after Christmas: Galatians iv. 1.

NOW I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

 The Gospel for the First Sunday after Christmas St. Matthew i. 18.

THE birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

 On Point

Someone asked, where do the quotes come from? The answer is from the people who uttered them. But, how did you find them? Oh, that. Some from Bishop Jerry, others from Rev. Geordie and many from Rev Bryan Dabney and a few from other places.

 

              Rev. Geordie Menzies-Grierson – England (right)

Points to Ponder:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Psalm 24:7

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Proverbs 3:12

In every trial and tribulation, let us find comfort in the knowledge that God, in His infinite wisdom, orchestrates all for the good of His chosen people. God's hand is behind every event, crafting our lives for His glory.
John Owen

God's providence is a divine compass, guiding our lives through every storm, always pointing us toward our true good and His eternal glory.
Matthew Henry

Trust in the Lord, for He has a wise design in every affliction, transforming our pain into a pathway of grace. Trust the divine Designer; He weaves even our pain into His purpose.
Samuel Rutherford

A religion that is to stand must have a living foundation, and there is none other but faith. There must be a real heartfelt belief that God’s promises are sure and to be depended on; a real belief that what God says in the Bible is all true, and that every doctrine contrary to this is false, whatever anyone may say. There must be a real belief that all God’s words are to be received, however hard and disagreeable to flesh and blood, and that his way is right and all others are wrong. This there must be, or you will never come out from the world, take up the cross, follow Christ, and be saved.
The Most Rev. J. C. Ryle – (Holiness, p. 184)

The heart that loves God finds peace in knowing that even the most confusing paths are ordered by Him for our benefit.
Richard Sibbes

Anglican Orthodox Church International_sm

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDING BISHOP
PO Box 128 • Statesville, N.C. 28687   •  Pho 704-873-8365

Email: usa@anglicanorthodoxchurch.org • Website: www.aocinternational.org

 Bishop’s New Year’s Greeting– 2024 Anno Domini        

 

In biblical numerology, the number eight signifies new beginnings. Eight souls were saved in the Ark of Noah during the Deluge. These eight began the replenishment of the earth. The Book of Ruth is the eighth book of the Bible and is like unto a garden of grace between the time of the judges and the time of the kings. It is filled with hints of the gospel and the Church.

            Jesus Christ rose on the eighth day following the historic computation of time as relates to the Sabbath (7^th Day). The birth and ministry of Christ represents the culmination of all that the Law and Prophets spoke of regarding a Redeemer. He did not change or alter the Word of God but fulfilled its hope and promise. He is the beginning of the new Creation of God as the first-born of all living. Though we celebrate a New Year on January 1, it is only a part and portion of the New Beginning in Christ. If that beginning is not in Christ, then it is not a beginning at all but simply a continuation of the old sinful ways of man.

            Christ is our only true beginning. So, instead of writing down resolutions of which we are incapable of keeping, let us simply resort to obedience of the Laws of God as we are enabled in the love of God, and love of one another.

            We have just hopefully ended a sordid period in the history of our American nation in which there was an open and enthusiastic promotion of the vilest sins of perversion and godlessness. We may consider that point to have past due to the election of a new President; however, the sins and depravity of any nation cannot be remedied by any new hero on the scene – Christ is the only answer for our nation and others around the world. No matter the proud boast, and even sincere efforts of man, a godless nation will never be blessed by Providence. The problem of the modern nations is not lack of effort or sincerity – it is a lack of the love of God and His Holy Word. Even the mighty lion is subject to the natural laws laid down by God. His moral law is just as commanding as is His natural laws of the Universe.

            On the positive side, we have been graciously given a second change to amend our ways and restore our moral decency in our land by putting our hand into the Hand of God as we march forward into a future fraught with uncertainties.

            Perhaps we would be wise to heed the courageous faith of the English people when at the beginning of World War II, King George the VI spoke these words to the nation (taken from a poem by Minnie Louise Haskins, entitled, The Gate of the Year):

 And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown". 
And he replied: 
"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way". 
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

          May this coming year prove us to be a people known for their godly faith and pleased to stand always for the right regardless the outcome.

 Happy New Year and continuing Christmastide

  † Jerry Ogles
Presiding Bishop, Metropolitan, Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide &

Chancellor, Faith Theological Seminary

 

                                                       Jerry Ogles, Presiding Bishop

Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

 

We are fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s you tube links, devotions on the Prayer of the Collect and sermon notes.

 

Bishop Jerry creates videos on various subjects, they last just under ten minutes and this week’s videos are listed below:

 

Bishop Ogles has a You Tube Channel that is free to subscribe: all of his videos at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuW3bgXBJFomPB5mZ4Oigxg

 

 

From the Names of Jesus Series: The Son of David

 Click link: https://youtu.be/sN_9dFiDFGk?si=A611JkU9ZG8TYZ6-

 

Sermon Notes, 1^st Sunday after Christmas Day

The Collect 

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle  - Galatians iv. 1.

NOW I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The Gospel - St. Matthew i. 18.

THE birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

             The ‘Peace of Rome’ (Pax Vobiscum) reigned through the then known world of Europe, South Asia, and northern Africa at the time of our Lord’s Incarnation in Bethlehem. No country dared rise up in rebellion against that binding power of Rome. Though Roman governance lacked much of virtue, it did serve God’s purpose in the propagation of the Gospel of Christ during the formative years of the Church. In fact, the Roman Caesar, Augustus, served the will of God, though unknowingly, when he issued the decree that all the world would be taxed. This facilitated the trip of Joseph and Mary to the prophesied Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2) where our Lord would be born.

            The children of God had been subject to the failures of obedience to the Commandments of God from Moses until the Incarnation of Christ. The previous four hundred years between the end of Old Testament Canon and the opening thunders of the Gospel word had been heard from the prophets concerning the hope of Israel. The silence would magnify the burst of Light that broke upon the world at the coming of Christ.

            The lectionary texts for today – the first Sunday after Christmas Day – informs us of that great event of the Incarnation in which God sent His only Begotten Son, born of woman, to be the Light which would end the centuries of the preceding ages of blinding darkness. “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” (John 1:4) God SENT His Son – He has existed from Eternity past – because Christ was with the Father from the beginning, but now is sent from the Father to fulfill the promise of a Redeemer of whom God spake unto Abraham.

            Paul, in our Epistle text, makes reference to the minority of those believers who labored under the Law to be accounted worthy of the children of God by means of obedience to the Law. The Old Testament period served to prepare us for the greater redemption to be had by means of a Savior upon whose righteousness, and not our own, we could be accounted righteous in the eyes of the Father. The time of the Incarnation had been appointed by God from before the foundation of the world. We were previously children under the tutor of the Law but to what end – that we could realize our depravity and failure to be righteous in our own merits. In the fulness of time, God sent His Son born of a woman like unto all other men are born.

            Christ was born as all other men are born, under the Law. Unlike other men, He was born without the taint of sin of Adam’s blood for His Father was God – not Adam. His Incarnation held forth the promise of the New Birth of the Elect to be no longer students under the Law, but the very sons of God by means of the adoption made possible in Christ. No longer do we serve the Law, but the spirit of Love in obedience thereto in Christ.

            Paul sets forth the precision of both time and circumstance of Christ Incarnation in four particulars:

 

1.      Man’s position before His coming - no more than a household servant subject to the Law which he was incapable of satisfying. Though we, as children, must obey our parents, how woefully short of that objective all of us coming in complying with that rule. We were taught the binding necessity of the Law, but had failed to learn its means of making righteous. True learning results in a change in behavior, and that change was realized in Christ to the elect believer.

2.      The fulfillment of the Incarnation according to the precise time prophesied by the Prophets of old time. It was a time when the world, known to observers, was under the peace of Roman rule. Mankind had come to the realization that no religion or philosophy, then existing, provided the means by which man could merit salvation. Only the promise made unto Abraham of a future Incarnation could afford that blessing.

3.      The truth of the Incarnation as foretold in the Law and Prophets.  His coming was under the restraints of the Law. He was the only One who was righteous under the Law for He knew no sin. In fact, He redeemed us under the terms of the Law in order to fulfill the demands of salvation.

4.      The Purpose and result of His Incarnation. His purpose was fully vested in our redemption and salvation from the demands of the Law. No longer would the believer be bound by the Law written on stone tables, but written with the finger of God upon the soft sinews of the heart with the ink of Love.

             IN the Gospel text from St Matthew, we are given to know and understand the purpose of the first Advent and coming of Christ. The beauty of His coming is a Fact and not an assumption. God has given the Church all means necessary to know the truth and to act upon it. St. Matthew reveals three witnesses (though the word of only two were necessary to settle a matter at law) – the first is the witness of Joseph. No man in Israel at the time of Christ would have even considered marrying a woman already pregnant of another. Joseph was a just man and was tenderly disposed to put Mary away privately to protect her outside the bonds of marriage until God revealed unto him the truth of that child which was found to be in her womb. At no point does the Bible refer to Jospeh as the father of Christ as some modern versions have so distorted the fact. The blood of Jesus was completely pure and free from the curse of the original sin passed on to us by way of Adam.

            A second witness is that of the Angels who appeared to Mary and to the shepherds on the hills overlooking sleepy Bethlehem (for it was one of the cities least distinguished of all in Israel).

            The third witness we must consider is that of John the Baptist prophesied some 700 years ere the event of His coming. He preached of His coming with the great courage witnessed in his death at the hand of Herod. Then, also, the witness of the Apostles all of whom died the death of martyrs except the beloved John. Our Lord was soundly prophesied to be Emmanuel (God with us) and He literally fulfilled that great and comforting promise. Though God ceased to walk among men in Eden, He now walks right beside every member of His elect Church. He is with us always, even unto the end of the world.

            The Prayer of Collect simply summarizes the infallible witnesses of both the Epistle, the Gospel, and every other word of prophesy of Holy Writ. It was the purpose of the Father to re-open the Gates of Splendor to mankind after the sin of Adam made an abyss of separation. Christ bridged that separation and made the new birth in Him possible for us to become sons and daughters by means of the adoption made possible by Christ.

            Christ is the first-born of all living, and we who believe are made whole – justified, regenerated and sanctified by the blood of the Lamb without blemish that was sacrificed for our sins that we might be accounted free of the sins of Adam.

In Christ Alone during ADVENT Season,

 † Jerry Ogles

Presiding Bishop, Metropolitan, Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide &

Chancellor, Faith Theological Seminary

 

The First Sunday after Christmas
Sermon – Bishop Jack Arnold - Time and Action
Church of the Faithful Centurion
Descanso, California

 Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message as we look for our place in this world. Let us start by reading today’s collect:

 The First Sunday after Christmas Day.
The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

 At this Christmastide, we have been concentrating on the joy of the Christ’s coming to earth; rightly so!  But, in our liturgical calendar, the days go on.  Right after Christmas, we celebrate Boxing Day in the Anglican tradition, but more than that 26 December brings us the recollection of Saint Steven Deacon and Martyr; he was killed under the direction of Saul of Tarsus, the same person who with God’s Grace and Help became Saint Paul.  The following day, 27 December, recalls Saint John, the longest lived of the Apostles whose writing gives so much to the theology of the New Testament.  Then on 28 December, we recall The Holy Innocents, whose deaths are connected with Jesus’ birth.  

 An odd combination of days and thoughts for those who do not choose to think or delve deeply into a subject upon which their eternal lives are dependent.   Most people, if they go to church, are Creastors, that is people who attend church on Christmas and Easter.  This is certainly better than not at all, but one wonders why the two major events of the Christian year do not inspire them to more in depth consideration of what is, after all, the instructions for the remainder of their life here on earth and eternity.  As ministers, I guess most of us wonder why we cannot get the message across.  Still other people, members of churches, come every Sunday, so long as it is convenient.  That is certainly better yet, but their knowledge falls short of the information available in the Bible.  While the Book of Common Prayer is a wonder, it only provides propers for the Sundays and Holy Days, the subject matter is limited to the 52 high points if you make every Sunday!  Often parishes overlook inconvenient days, such as Holy Innocents, or even worse the Circumcision.  They only fall on a Sunday every seven years and who will know, anyway?

 At this Christmastide, it is not surprising to find “To take our nature upon him”, is a key phrase of the Collect, preceding “To be born of a pure virgin”, meaning He could not have been born from anyone else but Mary, who was at the time a pure virgin (this is before the birth of James, Jesus’ biological half-brother. But the more important part of the phrases is “to take our nature upon him.” When He came into this world, He took our nature upon himself, that is to say in simpler terms He became like us. That is, He became human. So He could experience what it is like to be us and how we operate and also so He could represent us in His Sacrifice upon the cross. This is a very core and important part of Jesus’s story. He came down to be one of us so He could experience what it is like to be human and relate to His Creation more. This is simply incredible and shows how much He loves His Creation that He would come down and become one of us, live amongst us, then suffer the death upon the cross and descent into hell and battle with Satan that we might have eternal life!

Part of becoming human meant He felt the emotions we feel; pain, joy, suffering and more material emotions; hunger, wants and needs. This He took upon Himself, so He might come to understand His creation more. That could only be done if He could experience our body for himself, thus requiring Him to incarnate into a human form in order to understand what it was like to be us. Even though He created us and thus knew a lot about us, He needed the experience of being us. And also, to sacrifice Himself for our sakes, He needed to be within our bodies, so He could be accounted as a “human” sacrifice, taking upon all of our sins upon Himself, that we might be accounted as perfect before God to enter into heaven. This is the key advantage that Jesus has over Satan. He has lived, breathed and died in a human body, so He knows very keenly what we feel and experience as far as emotions and what we go through. Satan never has, so he is at a distinct disadvantage here.  This is one of the most amazing things of the Incarnation, God Himself came down to view, meet and be with His Creation, to understand how they live on this Earth and not only to understand His Creation, but to save His Creation from eternal death. This is because He views us as part of His family, by adoption via the Holy Spirit.

 This topic leads into the Epistle. As Paul says in his letter to the Galatians, we are not to be servants or slaves of God, but His own children, we are more precious to Him than servants or slaves. He views us as part of His very wide and extended family. He loves us like a father or mother loves their own children. That is a key difference between Christianity and Islam. Islam views its followers as a means to an end, but Christianity views the followers as part of God’s Holy Family in Heaven. We are not pawns but we are family members and participants in God’s big plan. This clearly shows the difference between a Satanic religion (Islam) and a Godly religion (Christianity). Allah does not care for his followers, merely views them as pawns for his schemes. God however cares for each and every one of us deeply and has great compassion for each and every one of us. He has such great compassion that he brought His Son Jesus to not only live amongst us, but give his life for us that we might have eternal life.

 We are different than the world for this very reason. The world lacks the compassion, the love Christ has given us, and it is the reason why it is and has been filled with so much trouble and sin over the thousands of years of our existence. Their lack of compassion and love is what has been the source of many conflicts over the ages. What Christ has given us is a gift beyond the world’s understanding and valuation systems. They simply cannot see the pure joy we get from following and serving God.  The World will not know peace until they finally recognize that serving God is the only way to have peace on Earth. But we will not have as much trouble as the world has, for we have something they do not, the Love of God and Christ among us to comfort and restore us, and to refresh us whenever we are tired and weary.

 We have to realize God took upon our nature and our infirmities for us, His love is infinite as He is infinite. He is the past, the future and the present, He is the Master of Time. He is indeed, the Lord of Time and He love for us expands beyond all the timelines into the unfathomable past and into the unknowable for us future.

 When we pray, we must refer to God as Father, as He is our spiritual Father and physical Father too, for without him, our fathers would not have been created and our lives would not have sprung forth upon this Earth. He is our ultimate Father in this sense, for without Him, we would not be here. We are in a state of eternal debt to God for bringing us in and saving us from the trouble of our human nature. If we are to repay it, we must follow Jesus on the path to perfection, which we will never get to, but we will certainly never get to it if we never try.

 As we came upon this midnight clear, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is here for us.  Will we accept it?  Follow Him, accept His Grace and all will be good forever.

 He comes!

 Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail.  The easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.

 The time is now, not tomorrow.  The time has come, indeed.  How will you ACT?

 It is by our actions we are known.

 Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

Bishop Jack Arnold

 

 

Yves M. Méra
Presiding Bishop
AOC France
Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide

 We are fortunate to have a sermon from the Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Orthodox Church of France and the Administrative Coordinator of Europe and Africa. As you will read, he is an excellent writer. The sermon is easy to read and provides much insight.

 SERMON for the First Sunday after Christmas

 Galatians 4/1-7; Matthew 1/18-25.

HEIRS OF THE ETERNAL FATHER

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Every Frenchman becomes the heir of his parents, by the mere fact of his birth. The parental responsibility for raising the child and having him or her educated is set by the law. From birth, we are entitled to a reserved share of our parents' property, which is not eternal.

And this is one of the great worries of all parents: To whom will our property go after our death? Abraham already asked himself this question in these words (Genesis 15:1-3): “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.” Even if our possessions are not eternal, they last a little longer than we do on earth. In our wardrobes, we keep linen embroidered by our ancestors several generations before us, during the time when they were engaged. Even these fragile textiles survive us, while our bodies degrade in the grave, as miserable skeletons.

We are committed to not leaving our children destitute. For a long time, parents married off their children with the aim of ensuring that they had the security of an annuity or sufficient income to live decently, and without having to work if possible. We thought of having our children born in the warmth of a home where nothing would be missing, rather than in a rustic nativity scene, among the animals, or even on the sidewalk, like singer Edith Piaf. These marriages imposed by the family inspired our famous drama author Molière, who advocated love marriages. Today, marriage itself is devalued and reduced to a formality that we gladly do without. Marriages are consummated in intimacy long before they are celebrated, and if this celebration finally takes place, it is followed by a painful divorce in every other time, where concern for material goods prevails over all other considerations. People pretend to be unaware that the division of property between divorced persons is provisional, because the inheritance will be called into question at the time of its parting between the heirs. It is the children who will receive their parents' estate, if they do not die before them.

Now children are brought up as kinglets, who are asked for their consent for too many things: food, clothing, leisure, reading; if not considered as in charge of the house. But God has spoken, and He has defined the child as a servant of his parents – and if he will be their heir, that will come later. The Epistle to the Galatians makes it clear (Galatians 4:1): “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all.” And a servant owes obedience to his master. The word obedience means obedience to God, as Christ imposes it on His disciples (Matthew 28:19-20): “Go ye therefore and teach all nations” ... “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”

(Galatians 4:2): “But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” In ancient times, fathers were very busy with their work in the fields, or absent because they served in the army, or traveled far away for their trade. As the word merchant indicates, merchants marched from place to place, and even from one country to another. They therefore entrusted their offspring to the mother, and since many of them died in childbirth, the father had to appoint a guardian to watch over them and raise them in his absence. In fairy tales, this guardian was often a stepmother, the new wife of the widowed father. And the Church has instituted godparents to be the spiritual parents of the children, after the eventual death of their natural parents. It was only when the child was strong enough to follow his father to the fields or accompany him to the army that he went under the direct authority of the father. The sons of the Jews are declared fit to follow their father at the age of 13, once their Bar Mitzvah has been completed. Bar Mitzvah translates to "Son of the Law." Boys are indeed at the age of responsibility before God from the day they are able to read the Torah and explain it, that is, to draw out its substantive marrow. It is not a question of interpreting it.

Paul remembers his childhood (Galatians 4:3): “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.” The role of education is to teach to obey. The policy of child-kings is in reality a parental resignation: how do you expect children to learn to obey if the parents obey no one, and especially not God? Today we complain about insecurity, we install alarm devices in our cars, in our houses, and we double lock the doors, because obedience is lacking among our fellow human beings. Now, if we are not subject to God, then we are subject to the devil. And it is precisely from this submission to the devil that Christ came to set us free, as we say in the Lord's Prayer: “Deliver us from evil” - or deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:13). Christ teaches us obedience to the Eternal Father, and He gives us an example of this by His life and death on a cross, the instrument of torture dedicated to rebellious servants, because He bore our disobedience to wash us from our sins with His own Blood.

And it was in submission to His earthly parents and Heavenly Father that Christ was born (Galatians 4:4): “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” We should in principle be under the law, but in practice, it is very different thing! The churches are deserted because we do not know the obedience according to the first Table of the Law of Moses, which specifies our duties towards God. We prefer the idols we see - because they are made by men and can be controlled by the same - to the one true God we do not see. (Exodus 33:19-23): To Moses, “[God] said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.” Remember, also, Lot's wife, who wanted to look back at the destruction of Sodom, hoping to see God at work (Genesis 19:22-26): “Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” God can do nothing without being seen. This is why He commands through the voice of the angel who accompanied Lot's family out of Sodom not to look at Him (Genesis 19:17b): “… Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” The key to happiness is in obedience. Let us submit to God and do not seek to see Him, nor to know more than He is willing to reveal to us in His Word, the Holy Bible.

And those whom the Father has predestined to be His children, God adopts; (Galatians 4:5) continues: “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Note that we receive divine adoption, for this is a grace that cannot be deserved nor merited, bought, or decided in God's place by men. Heavenly things belong to God, not to us. Once He has adopted us through the new birth in Faith, God considers us to be His children. But little children, like Jesus in the manger, at Christmas. Children whose lives depend on their Father, children nourished by their mother: the Church that dispenses to them the Bread of the Word that came down from Heaven, through many prophets ant God the Son Himself, and we are children animated by the very Spirit of God; (Galatians 4:6): “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Our adoption makes us brothers, joint-heirs of the Father with Christ, the servant who suffers and obeys unto death.

Paul concludes this passage from the Epistle to the Galatians (4/7) as follows: “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” What, then, does this divine inheritance, received from the Eternal Father, consist of? Nothing less than the eternity of God, by God, with God, and in God. But let us remember that the sons of God are subject to Him unto death, like Christ our elder brother, the first one to be raised from the dead. And even though we are resurrected with Christ in heaven, we will still be children of the Father, who will instill obedience into us (Hebrews 8:11): “And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.” This is our future, if we persevere in Christian obedience to the end, and again in the hereafter.

 Rt. Rev. Yves Méra, AOC Bishop of France.

 

 Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi - Sunday Sermon

We are fortunate to have Bryan’s Sunday Sermon. If you want people to come to The Truth, you have to speak the truth, espouse the truth and live the truth. This is really a good piece and I commend it to your careful reading.

 

The First Sunday after Christmas

 

 One the things that sets off the unregenerate is our insistence on interpreting scripture based on what the Bible says and not solely on what men say. They insist that because of their “education— degrees, titles and positions of authority, etc.— their understanding of the sacred texts should be considered the only interpretation worthy of acceptance in explaining the meaning of Holy Scripture to others. The Bible tells us that God’s truth has been hidden from the worldly and profane. It does not matter how much “so-called” education they have if what they are peddling is not in congruence with God’s word written, then it should not be accepted as such. In the Book of Daniel we read, …⁹And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. ¹⁰Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand: but the wise shall understand (12: 9-10). Consider also the apostle Paul’s second epistle to the Corinthians wherein he wrote: ³But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (4:3-4). And let us also keep in mind what he wrote in his first epistle to that same church when he advised: ¹⁸For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent (1:18-19).

 Further on in his letter to the Colossians, the apostle Paul wrote that, ¹For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; ²that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God; and of the Father, and of Christ; ³in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (2:1-3). And in response to these verses from Colossians, the Rev. Matthew Henry noted that, “The treasures of wisdom are hidden not from us, but for us, in Christ” which is in keeping with our Lord’s offering of thanks to the Father when he prayed: …I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes (St. Matthew 11:25).

 As born-again believers in Jesus Christ, we recognize that God’s word is truth (St. John 17:17). And because it is truth, we rely upon it to help us as we journey on as pilgrims and strangers bound for glory. The wise of this world rely upon their own understanding of the things which will lead them to only one place. Hell is full of those who did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25): who viewed themselves as being righteous by their own efforts (See Revelation 3:17). We may safely refer to such behavior as the way of Cain and is so-called because Cain— and others like him— rejected God’s standards in favor of those of their own choosing (St. Jude 3-19). The wise and the prudent— such as the scribes, and Pharisees— were fit examples of those who used their knowledge and wisdom for personal gain.

 Today, the wise can be found within the body of Christ serving in various capacities. They might be seminary doctors, clergy or even lay people. And like those of our Lord’s day, they too are his enemies through their rejection of him as the Christ, the only begotten of the Father. However, they are not without a lord and master. For in their rejection of the living Christ, they have embraced “another Jesus”— which is Antichrist— and “another gospel”— which is the false gospel of perdition (see Galatians 1:6-9).

 As faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we ought to avoid “the unequal yoke” of fellowship with those who are not in keeping with the fundamentals of the Christian faith. And that can be difficult on account of Satan’s mortal agents within the various churches. For through these errant souls, theDevil has sought to deceive and trap the unwary and the unlearned by misrepresenting God’s will for them especially when it comes to “compromise” and “dialogue” with those who bear only the name of Christ but not his nature. We further understand that every form of compromise will require at least one party to give up something in hopes of gaining something else. And what are the usual and expected items to be sacrificed by believing Christians in any compromise with the unregenerate? In every case they are the tenets of sound Christian doctrine. And to that end, Satan desires that all regenerate believers “compromise” and “dialogue.” He wants to replace the unity of all under our Lord with a unity of all under his rule and authority (see II Corinthians 6:14-18 and Revelation 13:1-18). It’s as if we are reliving Genesis 11 and the attempt by Satan’s man, Nimrod, to join all humanity together under a single leader. Eventually, all who reject the one true Christ of Scripture will worship the Dragon and the Beast (Revelation 13:1- 7).

 Beloved in Christ, biblical doctrines matter. They matter because it is through them that we are informed about our relationship with the Godhead. And sound biblical doctrines have been paid for not only in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, but in the blood of countless Christian martyrs who stood up for the truth of God’s word in the face of all manner of persecutions. If we have any understanding of the truth of Jesus Christ, we ought to be filled with thanks to God for the sacrifice of those who went before us in the faith. And in that light, should we not exercise great care in preserving what has been handed down to us? Should we not resist the Devil and his pernicious followers who are merely wolves in sheep’s clothing (St. Matthew 7:15)? Absolutely! It is important for everyone who has been born again of the Spirit to resist the temptation to follow after those whose earthly credentials give them an appearance of godly wisdom, but whose hearts are cut from the same cloth as those of the scribes and Pharisees of our Lord’s day. Just as those evil men hid behind their monikers of piety and religion, so do their contemporaries within the Christian Church. The modernists are ashamed of the risen Lord whose name they bear because his true nature does not fit within their jaded and compromised definition of it means to be a Christian. We must ever be watchful and on our guard against their offers of “compromise” and “dialogue”. You can count on their master sending them to us, and so we must beready at all times clothed in our spiritual armor.

We need to know what is in our bibles and not what is in the latest book by “Rev. Dr. So-in-So.” We need to keep our hearts focused on the truth of God’s word written and not on the pronouncements of “Bishop This-or-That.” We need to hear the truth of God’s word from a believing minister and not sit Sunday after Sunday in a church where God’s word is twisted and tortured by “Rev. Pastor Mr. or Ms. Such-in-Such” who would not know the living Christ if he suddenly appeared before them.

 It is my hope that if you have not done so, you will develop a lively faith in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord. That you will seek to live in obedience to God’s word as found within the pages of Scripture. And in that vein, I admonish each of you to be wise in Christ and to prepare yourselves so that you are not caught unawares. Christ is coming back and he will judge both the wicked and the righteous. Therefore, my advice to you is this: avoid the web of lies that has been spun by Satan’s cronies within the church. Keep to God’s word written and steer clear of all who will not follow it. And may the God of Peace bless and keep you all in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 Let us pray,

O gracious and loving God, who has given to us the free gift of salvation through thine only begotten Son; keep us from all deception, and give us hearts that are ever ready to resist until the end; so that at the last, we need not be ashamed to stand before thy Son and give an account of our lives in thy service; and these things we ask in that name which is above every name even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a blessed week,
Bryan+

 

 

Roy Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor
Saint Paul's Anglican Church
Diocese of the Midwest Anglican Orthodox Church
Suffragan Bishop of the AOC

 

 Sermon on the Gospel Lesson for the

First Sunday after Christmas

 

 The Epistle. Galatians 4:1-7  The Gospel. St. Matthew 1:18-25

 ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

 Hymns  # 27, 28, 35

      When the early church began to grow there were some basic conflicts between the original Jewish believers and the new influx of Gentile believers.  Some (the Judaizers) believed that all new converts needed to become Jewish in custom as well as practice. Paul was helping the church at Galicia to understand that there was no need to go back in time and custom to a now defunct system, one that had been replaced by the work of Christ the Savior. Paul tries to make the point of what it means to grow in faith:  ¹NOW I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; ²but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.(Galatians 4:1-2) {The apostle deals plainly with those who urged the law of Moses together with the gospel of Christ, and endeavoured to bring believers under its bondage. They could not fully understand the meaning of the law as given by Moses. And as that was a dispensation of darkness, so of bondage; they were tied to many burdensome rites and observances, by which they were taught and kept subject like a child under tutors and governors.}*

      They did not fully understand that with the death and resurrection of Christ, “old things had passed away...”.  Many of the practices that were prevalent under the law were no longer necessary to observe or keep as expressed by Moses during the wandering in the wilderness. ³Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. (Galatians 4:3) This being that the death of Christ would cover ALL sacrifices and make any new ones null and void.  Christ finished the redemptive process on the Cross, His blood shed for our salvation was full and sufficient, a once and for all perfect oblation for our sin. This would be the act that would provide salvation to all who were/are called to Christ by the Holy Spirit. “⁴but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive time adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)

       {We learn the happier state of Christians under the gospel dispensation. From these verses see the wonders of Divine love and mercy; particularly of God the Father, in sending his Son into the world to redeem and save us; of the Son of God, in submitting so low, and suffering so much for us; and of the Holy Spirit, in condescending to dwell in the hearts of believers, for such gracious purposes.}* ⁶And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:6-7)

      {Also, the advantages Christians enjoy under the gospel. Although by nature children of wrath and disobedience, they become by grace children of love, and partake of the nature of the children of God; for he will have all his children resemble him. Among men the eldest son is heir; but all God's children shall have the inheritance of eldest sons. May the temper and conduct of sons ever show our adoption; and may the Holy Spirit witness with our spirits that we are children and heirs of God.}*

      Now to cement two concepts together let us look at the passage from the first chapter of Matthew’s gospel that focuses on the birth of Christ our Savior. Let us focus on the last couple of verses of this passage.  What is so amazing in these passages that being the fulfillment of prophecy, some dating back to the Garden. The hoped for promise of a redeemer, one who would save us from spiritual death, one who would restore us to perfection, all this culminating in the perfect gift from God the Father, all revealed to us during this season of Christmastide.  ²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. ²²Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, ²³Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. ²⁴Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:21-25)

        We see the reinforcement of the idea of who Christ is as reported in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament, the whole spectrum of God’s redemption of His creation, imago dei.  God will insert Himself into human history with the very understanding of Emmanuel, God with us.  Time and again we read in both Testaments of this great concept of God redeeming His own.  The Law shows us that we are utterly incapable of saving ourselves, that it is only by the perfect, once and for all time, sufficient sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the Cross, that can save us from our sins.  This very act provides all who believe with the hope of resurrection, the promise of eternal life, and the understanding that we have an eternal home with God in His heaven.

       As we launch into a nw year, let us reflect on what we do daily to prepare our lives to serve the Lord.  We need to continue in the Word, pray continually for each other and those who are lost. We need to daily praise God for our being.  Praise God for our daily bread, life, freedoms, and yes, our rough spots that come at us from time to time. He will hold us, He will give us hope, He will give us Light.      Let us praise God from whom all blessings flow.

 Let us pray:

ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us, and to all men;  We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.    

 LORD Jesus Christ, who as on this day didst rise from the dead; Teach us to reverence this thy holy day, and give us grace so to use it, that we may rise to newness of life, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

 * Matthew Henry, commentary @ 1710

 Bishop Roy Morales-Kuhn

 

 

Rev Stephen Cooper Church of the Redeemer Fairbanks, Alaska
From time to time we are fortunate to receive a sermon from Rev.    Cooper in Fairbanks Alaska. The head of our northernmost church,  Stephen is a brilliant and inspiring speaker. I wish we had video of him rather than just audio; but I am confident you will enjoy this.

 This sermon is for Christmas Day. Please take the time to listen to it.

   Rev. Cooper, Fairbanks, AK

 

 Rev. Coopers Sermon for Christmas Day

 Click link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erYs21-PE_I

   

Rev. David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama

We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian on:

The First Sunday after Christmas

Galatians 3:23-4:7 

Adoption is?  .....

“For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship , might become a son of God.” Irenaeus, 2nd century.

Adoption means litterally in greek - to place a son.

Galatians 4:3-7 KJV: “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:  ⁴But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  ⁶And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Here is a story I thought said it well. God has room for us by adoption, but do we have room for him? ---often we are too busy to focus on the better things that need our help, or we are thinking we are not worth it, but God does?:    "

Wally was big for his age--seven years old. Everyone wondered what role the teacher would give him in the annual Christmas play. Especially considering the fact that he was also a slow learner. Perhaps he could pull the curtain.

To everyone's surprise the teacher gave Wally the role of the innkeeper. The boy of course was delighted. After all, all he had to learn was one line:

“There is no room in the inn.” He had that down in no time.

Then came the night for the program. The parents took their places. Every seat in the auditorium was filled. The children entered singing “Oh come all ye faithful.” The lights dimmed. A hush moved over the audience. The curtain opened on Scene One. Mary and Joseph entered the stage and walked up to the inn. “Please sir, my wife is not well. Could we have a room for the night?”

Wally was ready for his line. He had rehearsed it all night. He began, “there is,” and he hesitated. He started over again. There is. . .and again his mind went completely blank. Everyone was embarrassed for him but poor Wally just didn't know what to do. Joseph thought he would improvise and started walking away toward the stable on stage left. Seeing him walking away Wally in desperation called out: “Look, there's plenty of room at my house, just come on home with me.”

That seems a rather delightful twist on a familiar story. Over the years the characters in the Christmas story have become clearly defined for us. The issues all seem so clear cut. Herod was a villain and the wise men were heroes. The shepherds were heroes and the Innkeeper--well, the poor innkeeper has gone down as one of the heavies in the story. In our minds eye, we envision him as a crotchety old man with a night cap on his head sticking his head out a second story window and tersely shouting: Take the stable and leave me alone.

But perhaps the innkeeper has received bad press. Preachers over the centuries have had a field day with the poor fellow. But was it his fault that the inn was built with twelve rooms instead of thirteen? Was it his fault that Caesar Augustus had issued a decree that the entire world should be taxed? Was it his fault that Mary and Joseph were so late in arriving?

But you know something; this simple little statement about there being no room in the Inn becomes a symbol for Luke. As he writes his gospel it almost becomes a theme. Luke takes this one line, “There is no room in the inn,” and shows us how this phrase was recurrent throughout Jesus' ministry. The question that Luke leaves for us is--will there ever be any room for him? sermons.com

We are definitely heirs through adoption.  An heir is " lēronómos (a masculine noun derived from  /klḗros, "lot" and nemō, "to distribute, allot") – an heir; someone who inherits."  biblehub.com greek word summary

---Perhaps there is no better real illustration than adopting an animal. They are no longer strays, or living in a big kennel. They are living in the house, and have all the benefits of a dog doctor....a veterinarian. 

Nouwen said it this way and we all need to hear it; 

“The great temptation is to use our obvious failures and disappointments in our lives to convince ourselves that we are really not worth being loved. Because what do we have to show for ourselves?

But for a person of faith the opposite is true. The many failures may open that place in us where we have nothing to brag about but everything to be loved for. It is becoming a child again, a child who is loved simply for being, simply for smiling, simply for reaching out.

This is the way to spiritual maturity: to receive love as a pure, free gift."

Should I say Bingo? The point is so helpful. We are already in the Kingdom through faith and adoption. Grace is greater than our sin the old song says. Grace, grace, grace, ......not earned or deserved. While we were still in bondage, we were called and given the Sonship of the kingdom. 

That is what Christmas is.  It is not the buying and selling of toys and dolls, as much as like gifts.  It is a better gift.  It is the gift, not earned or deserved of eternal life.

God accepts us in Christ Jesus. So who do we need to accept? Ourselves, others, that person that frustrates us the most? “…Inasmuch as ye have done it to the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)

We conclude with Ireaneus “For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship,  might become a son of God.”  Irenaeus, 2nd century.

The Rev. David McMillan

 

AOC Worldwide Prayer List –

I have received updates from a few and those will be the first added to the list. Please send all prayer requests and updates to aocworldwide@gmail.com for future reports. If you would like to be removed from list just respond with remove in the subject line.

 

Keep Praying for the following:

Shamu, Mauri Turner, Mike, Jim, Dotty, Jan Jessup, Steve, Josh Morley, Jennifer,
AOC USA, AOC Missions, Zach, Jess, Luke, Jacquie, Harper, Bishop Zephaniah,
Jim Sevier, Linda, Donald Roesch, Colin, Lowery, Robert

Prayer Needed:

 

 Andy Elsenboss – Hip Replacement Surgery today – dec. 23

Christy Sepsas Wood - mild stroke, pray for complete recovery.

Eddie Bowman – car accident – collapsed lung, broken hip, back injuries - hospitalization

 Tate Maag – infant with recently implanted feeding tube

Alicia – Struggling caring for parents at home

 Bishop Zephaniah – Kidney stones

Donna – beginning her chemo for Brain Cancer – recovered from surgery

Extended Issues need continued prayer;

Laurie with long Covid Symptoms - Extreme exhaustion, heart palpitations, breathing problems and unstable blood pressures/mood are constant worries causing depression to settle in.

 Malcom Allred – Cancer Treatment

 Katie Pope – Just beginning treatment for Stage 4 Pulmonary Carcinoma “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)

 Hurricane Helen Recovery

Please keep praying for all the people and towns affected by Hurricane Helene

All Those in Recovery from Hurricane MILTON