250105 AOC Sunday Report
Worldwide Communion
Second Sunday after Christmas
Sunday Report
The Second Sunday after Christmas – January 5, 2025
Second 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 106-107, with the Collect first:
The Collect for the Second Sunday after Christmas
The Epistle for the Second Sunday after Christmas. Isaiah lxi. 1.
THE Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the plant-ing of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
The Gospel for the Second Sunday after Christmas. St. Matthew ii. 19.
WHEN Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judæa in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
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 (above)
Points to Ponder:
Ye that
love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth
them out of the hand of the wicked.
Psalm
97:10
The name
of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Proverbs 18:10
Therefore
every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man
that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and
old.
Matthew 13:52
The
privileges of godliness are often the pride and confidence of those that are
strangers and enemies to the power of it. It is common for those that are furthest
from God to boast of being near to the church.
The Rev. Matthew Henry
The true
Christian is the only happy man, because he has sources of happiness entirely
independent of this world. He has something which cannot be affected by
sickness and by deaths, by private losses and by public calamities—the ‘peace
of God, which surpasses all understanding.’ He has a hope laid up for him in
Heaven; he has a treasure which moth and rust cannot corrupt; he has a house which
can never be taken down.
The Most
Rev. J. C. Ryle - Happiness- 1878
At the
close of the Daily Offices for morning and evening worship, we offer up to God
“A Prayer of St. Chrysostom” wherein we ask him to, “Fulfil now, O Lord, the
desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them;
granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life
everlasting. Amen.” When we ask God to grant to us what is “expedient” we are
leaving it to him to decide what is good for us. So, any thing we ask of God
ought to be framed in that manner. And whatever we receive, we ought to give
God the glory and praise in thanksgiving for what he has done. We all liked to
be thanked when we do things for others and the same is true for our Lord.
Giving thanks and praise to God for his gifts should be on our minds at all
times. We should have constant thoughts of God’s hand in our lives along with
constant thoughts of thanks for his presence with us and in us via the Holy
Ghost. Let us not place our faith in the uncertainty of riches but in the
living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy . . . (I St. Timothy
6:17).
Rev. Bryan
Dabney, Sermon for the 15th Sunday after Trinity, 2024
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
Questions and Answers for a New Year
But where shall wisdom be
found? and where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:12
Wisdom crieth without; she
uttereth her voice in the streets: 21She crieth in the chief place
of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words,
saying, 22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the
scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Proverbs 1:20-23
When
wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11discretion
shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee.
Proverbs 2:10-11
Wisdom is the principal thing;
therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7
Happy is the man that findeth
wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Proverbs 3:13
How that solemn fact should
search our hearts! Christian, your history this year will be either one of
going forward—or backsliding. This new year will mark either an increased
fruitfulness in your soul and life—to the glory of Him whose name you bear; or
increased leanness and barrenness—to His reproach! It will witness either a
growing in grace—or a decline in your spirituality. It will record an increased
love for the Word, use of the Throne of Grace, strictness of walk and closer
communion with Christ—or a growing coldness and a following of Him afar off.
A. W. PINK
The Bible often uses the technique of personification when making reference to strong points of ideas such as WISDOM; however, wisdom is not a person, but descriptive of Godly qualities and, certainly, descriptive of the nature of our Lord. If any single Person could be said to perfectly embody the qualities and properties of WISDOM, it would be our Lord Jesus Christ. He counseled only with wisdom.
So why is the feminine noun often used to describe wisdom? It may be due to the convincing and pleading nature of the feminine over the masculine. Men often depend upon their brute strength or intimidation to convince others to do or think in a certain way; but a woman has a more gentle approach in convincing through wise counsel rather than force of personality. In the end, only reasoned wisdom matters.
What is the source of wisdom? It is given by the Lord just as He gave to Solomon because he was a seeker of wisdom. “Seek and ye shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you.” (Matthew 7:7)
With what
disposition is one motivated to ask, to seek, to knock at the door of wisdom?
An interesting reference is made in the Psalms in answer to that inquiry: “The
fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that DO HIS COMMANDMENTS: his
praise endureth for ever.”
(Psalms 111:10) A good
understanding is begotten of wisdom, and that comes – not in merely knowing
God’s Commandments, but in DOING THEM!
Bishop Jerry Ogles – SOPHIA – a devotion - 180426
Jerry Ogles
Presiding Bishop, Metropolitan
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
The Names of Jesus Series: The Advocate
Click link to view and listen: https://youtu.be/Fh-DielZFNk
Enjoy this presentation from the 39
Articles of Prayer Series: Article 27
Click link: https://youtu.be/Iv_juQtpBNc
Sermon for
the Second Sunday after Christmas – Bishop Jerry Ogles
The Epistle
Isaiah lxi. 1.
THE Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Standing before a Holy God as depraved sinners, we cannot but express an awe and a meekness toward Him. Proud hearts will not countenance the condemnation that their sins warrant feeling themselves righteous in their own right. Sin enslaves its victims. Guided by self-will rather than free will, the sinner is in bondage to sin – in fact, dead in trespasses and sin, and unable to lift a finger to help himself from the pit. He is dead as a Door Nail. Now comes the Lord Jesus Christ preaching His Gospel of Liberty and freedom – not to the elite and prideful dwellers in darkness - but to those who have been made aware of their sins by the revelation of that Gospel. His Gospel is a balm of comfort to the brokenhearted for whom life has offered little of substance. He has opened the gates of our prisons of sin that we may walk freely as subjects of Heaven’s King and not as penurious slaves of the king and potentates of the world.
But note the Good News of the Gospel has conditions! It also bears a warning of vengeance to those whose hearts are hardened and intransigent in their sins. Heaven makes no allowance for a single sin, and all have sinned; however, in Christ, even the old man is made new and accounted as wholly righteous by the merits of only the righteous One, Jesus Christ - His imputed righteousness. We may then be called trees of righteousness for our home is by the rivers of living waters, and our roots sink deep into that reservoir of life in all seasons.
The
Gospel
St. Matthew ii. 19.
WHEN Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
In the Gospel text, we find that the fearful Herod has died – he who sent to have every male-child of two years age and under viciously torn from their mother’s arms and murdered – is dead!
Why was Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in Egypt? You will recall that Joseph was warned of Herod’s plan to kill the innocents of Bethlehem. He was fearful of a greater king than himself arising, and surely any king at all would have exceeded Herod in righteousness, but this was to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Magi had sighted the Star heralding the birth of Christ from a great distance to the east – likely Persia. They must have traveled many months, and maybe even up to two years – to find the Baby Jesus already installed in a house. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11) That is why Herod inquired of the time of their sighting the Star, for the purpose of determining the approximate age of baby Jesus. Based on that computation of time of the sighting, it seemed likely that the child would have been no older than two years. So, following the warning received from God, Joseph went down into Egypt with Mary and baby Jesus to avoid the terrors of Herod.
Now, in our text, The man who murdered the Innocents of Bethlehem has, himself, succumbed to the eternal darkness of the sinners death. But his son, Archelaus, just as wicked as his father, has ascended to the throne. So even though Bethlehem was the city of his nativity, our Lord was taken to Nazareth of Galilee. This fulfilled the prophecy that He who was born in the City of David (Bethlehem) would be called a Nazarene. By the way, do not confuse that title with that of Nazarite which was an order to which Samson belonged.
The providence of God the Father is revealed in overwhelming certainty in the care of His only Begotten Son, and that is the same providence that oversees the state of His righteous elect.
The Prayer of Collect
ALMIGHTY God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word; Grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Prayer of Collect rightly points out the coming of a new Light of the World with the Incarnate Word of God. He is the Light of the World and a bright and shining Light to all who are called according to His purpose. We too are the light of the world insofar as our hearts are filled with the Light of Christ for we reflect are not the source but the reflectors of that Light. When we are bright and burning lights for Christ, the brilliance of His Light is made known to all who seek to know Him
He is watching over you, me, and all of faith as we write, or read, this devotion,
Can you feel His Presence even at this moment, friends?
In Christ Alone during ADVENT Season,
† Jerry Ogles
Presiding Bishop.
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide & Chancellor, Faith Theological Seminary
Second Sunday after Christmas
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 enter into a period of preparation for the coming of our Lord and Savior. Let us start by reading today’s collect:
Sermon for the Second Sunday after Christmas
Today’s sermon ties together the propers, that is to say the prayer and readings for this week. Due to calendar considerations, we do not oft get to celebrate the Second Sunday after Christmas as there are only 12 days in Christmastide, but this is one of those years!
Consider these words from the Collect, “…God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word; Grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives…”
First, note God has given us the New Light of Jesus Christ in the world and in our lives as the Word Incarnate, or the Word in the Flesh. We did not earn it He gave it to us! Gave, as in we did nothing to deserve it. It is a gift of God’s wonderful Grace! Once received we must use His Gift to perform actions for Him and show that we do indeed have faith in Him.
It is easy to read the words of His Word and not act upon them. What good is receiving such a wonderful gift from God and not putting it to its intended use of spreading His Word to the world? Sadly far too many people in this world do not act upon His Word. However it is much harder to put His Word into practice but that is what we must do in order to follow Him. However, we are not without help in this endeavor. With the help of the Holy Ghost, we can act upon His Word and have His Light shine forth in our lives. When His Light shines in our lives it will be very evident to those around us. We will act differently from our former duller sinful selves and be more reflective of our faith in God and Jesus. This difference will be evident for all to see and with the help of the Holy Ghost will draw more people towards God.
The reading used for the Epistle is not an Epistle as such, but a portion of the Book of Isaiah, one of the Old Testament books filled with New Testament ideas and thoughts. Isaiah is pointing out what God will do for us, if we will but allow Him in. He will break us from the prison known as sin and bring us to true freedom.
In the reading, Isaiah says what we should all be saying, The Lord has selected us to pass on His Good Tidings to all, to tell the world the Good News of the Lord Jesus! To comfort those in need, to bring happiness where there is heaviness, to talk of the Glory of God! Good News indeed for those of us who live in a fallen world where there is very little Good news, especially these days! Jesus proclaims liberty to us, the former captives who were bound by the sin that would otherwise bring us to a final death. Instead of death, He proclaims light and light to all the hearts who accept Him.
On the surface, in the Gospel, Matthew is just relating the historical fact of Joseph being told to go back into Israel with Mary and Jesus, that all was safe for the time being. Yet, there is more. The verses also recall the threat to Jesus’ life from Herod and sends Joseph and his family to take up residence in Nazareth in fulfillment of the prophecy that the King of Kings would be called a Nazarene.
So, what of us? How do we fit in to all this?
We are to spread the light unto the world, to be beacons, directing the people of the World to follow Christ and not the World. We are lamp bearers, torch bearers, bringing the light of Scripture unto the darkest places. We are like the light of Galadriel given to Frodo in Lord of the Rings, that it might be a light “unto the darkest places.” Indeed, this world is dark, a lot like the world of Mordor, also from Lord of the Rings. Even when we despair and all seems hopeless, with Christ and the Holy Ghost in our hearts, we can ride out amidst the darkness of the world and triumph over what seems like overwhelming odds, when the evil folk outnumber the good folk. With this rallying to our King, we can defeat anything evil throws at us. We know in the end our side wins for all eternity. We have the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us in difficult times and the wonderful guide of Scripture to guide us.
So too shall Scripture be a light for us and others in the darkest times and places on this planet. Christ is the great guiding star, like the North Star for sailors of old to navigate by. He is our infallible navigation aid that will never go out of service, that will always be there to return to whenever we go astray from the path that God has set for us.
We need to return to the Scriptures and His Word and consult Him for guidance and not look for true guidance from the heart of man. We know that the heart of man is fallible and will get us spiritually lost. However the Holy Spirit is infallible and will not get us spiritually lost. Listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and all will be well.
How do we listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit? In order to listen, we need to allow the Holy Ghost to enter in our hearts and open us to change our ways to God’s ways. We have to be ready, willing and able to receive Him and to spread His Word, to have a true solid, Christian faith. Only then can we go forth and spread the Good News as God has instructed us. We can’t go forth and spread the Good News, if we do not have it within us via the Holy Ghost.
In order to be of help to others who would come to Christ, we must walk the walk besides talking the talk; we must not be as hypocrites, saying one thing but doing another. We do not want to be like the Pharisees of old, with their lavish prayers and gestures in the public. But we must be like the publican who would not so much as lift His eyes up onto the heavens. We must have a humble, hearty and contrite spirit, to spread the Word of the Lord to those who need to hear it most.
The time has come to show the light unto the world. The time has come to choose God or Satan. The choice is like those in the Lord of the Rings[1]. Do we choose the Light, like the Men of the West and Aragorn of Gondor, or do we choose the forces of Darkness, of Mordor and their allies? Who shall we choose? Our actions shall show our hearts. “For where your heart is, there shall your treasure be also.”
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 Second Sunday after Christmas
Isaiah 61:1-3; Matthew 2:19-23
HOPE DESPITE EVERYTHING
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
No one can oppose the will of the Father. When King Herod wanted to get rid of a competitor the three Magi told him about by trying to eliminate him, he had all the children of Bethlehem slaughtered (Matthew 2:16): “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.” But it was a wasted effort, because God intervened, and warned Joseph (Matthew 2:13-14): “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.” Joseph, Mary and Jesus were spared from the slaughter, just as Noah and his sons avoided general drowning by sailing in the Ark as recommended by God in the days of the Flood. Jesus survived this slaughter, for His hour had not come yet.
And just as Noah finally landed on Mount Ararat, when all hope of life seemed lost, except trust in God and His word, God intervened again by sending His messenger angel back to Joseph (Matthew 2:19-20): “But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.” Our Heavenly Father asks Joseph to lead the Holy Family and to "wear the breeches"; even Mary is subject to him, and those who make her the mediatrix of God's graces should, if they were consistent with the Bible, first go through Joseph. However, they do not do so. Nowhere in the New Testament do we see the Apostles praying to Mary or Joseph. If this is excluded for them, it must be the same for us.
And what was Joseph's reaction, if you please? (Matthew 2:21-22): “And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee.” Not only did Joseph obey without question, unlike Jonah who fled as far as he could from God (Jonah 1:1-3): “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.” but Jonah dares to criticize God by giving Him false pretenses for his lack of faith (Jonah 4:1-2): “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.” Nevertheless, the Eternal God accepts no excuse. However, He is quite flexible when a man makes use of the intelligence that God gives him and that the Bible calls divine Wisdom. King Solomon received a good share of it, so much so that the queen of Sheba came on an official visit to Jerusalem just to listen to him (1 Kings 10:1-7): “And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.”
In terms of wisdom, Joseph is content with the popular prudence "a scalded cat fears cold water". He distrusted the kings of Judea and settled in Nazareth, Galilee. Still, he received a helping hand from God the Father (Matthew 2:22-23): “But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” Joseph's prudence inspires him fear, but not the solution, which is whispered to him by God. Without the Lord speaking to us in the Bible, we know nothing and we can do nothing good.
God knows so well how to lead His world by the nose, when necessary, that He directs Joseph in such a way that His divine Word will be invariably fulfilled. If the prophets said from God that our Lord Jesus Christ “shall be called a Nazarene” even though he was born in Bethlehem, then the same God will make His word fulfilled, no matter what happens and whatever it takes. It is upon this unshakeable, eternal, and abiding assurance that we base our hope and trust in the Word of God, which is infallible because God is almighty. He says and does, unlike worldly politicians and demagogues who say and do not, or do the exact opposite of what they once promised.
And indeed, the prophet Isaiah had foretold the coming of a Savior who would set the oppressed free, and rejoice the depressed and mourning (Isaiah 61:1-2): The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.” God's plan is not to bring about a revolution, but to restore justice and His right. Certainly, by this restoration of justice, he is doing good to the men of this world. However, God does not stop there; His will aims much higher, for God intends to glorify Himself by His works, and He expects everyone to glorify Him, on earth as well as in Heaven: God eventually sends His only begotten Son “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3).
By doing good to men, God deserves and earns their praise; but this praise is not imposed from outside on pain of death as in the case of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:1-6): “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” Help! This is chilling!
The praise that God expects of us comes from the heart. It is a free and spontaneous outpouring of sincere gratitude for the blessings of God, who, unlike Nebuchadnezzar and his threat of hellfire, wants to save us from it. Christ Himself endured the hell of the Cross in order to save us from being thrown into the furnace of Gehenna - the valley that served as a dumping ground for the people living in Jerusalem, and whose fire was never extinguished, fed by the refusals that were thrown into it, from the domestic fire places that were emptied every night for safety. Far from this, our praise to God is intended to manifest His splendor “that he might be glorified”, as Isaiah says in chapter 61 verse 3, already quoted.
And what are these benefits for which we are indebted to our Father in Heaven? Here is a non-exhaustive list (because God speaks to each of us in particular, according to our own experience).
1. We know the one true God, Our Heavenly Father, and we receive a share of His infinite Wisdom by reading the Bible, like the queen of Sheba who came to listen to Solomon.
2. We avoid the second death and eternal hell, as Noah escaped the Flood, or as Lot was spared during the destruction of Sodom, also warned by God and His messengers, or like the infant Jesus who was taken to Egypt by Joseph who thus saved Him from being massacred with the Holy Innocents.
3. We have the hope of the Salvation promised by God to those who believe (John 5:24): “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
4. We are overjoyed and grateful for this Salvation that we have not deserved, but that our Lord Jesus Christ has acquired for us by becoming incarnate, sacrificing Himself, and dying on a wicked cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.
5. We are justified and glorified by the Eternal God, the Almighty, and we share with the Angels in His heavenly and eternal praise, for we recognize that He is the supreme Good and the source of all goodness, we who were as wicked as the others, if not worse, such as Saul (Paul) the persecutor of Christians, who was converted by Christ on the road to Damascus, until God gives us the grace of faith in His Word of Life. And this life is not only a survival, as in the case of Noah or Lot, but a super-life in a superterrestrial - supernatural - world that overflows on this earth, touching the hearts of the true believers - the Father's chosen ones.
6. We are adopted by the Father, and joint-heirs with Christ of all that belongs to Him, that is, of all Creation. Can we hope any better, greater, more glorious situation? What heritage could be more generous than all of Creation, with all that the Universe may contain?
How could we hope for more? Only one condition is imposed on us to benefit from it: we must be born again, by faith (1 John 5/1a): “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God...” Even a fully paralyzed man can believe and be saved by God! And Jesus did not only heal paralytics, but He saved them from the fire of Gehenna (Matthew 9:2b): “… Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Note in passing that Our Lord Jesus Christ calls him "my child," for he has just been born again, and in the Book of Life, which is the civil status register of the citizens of the Kingdom of God, his name has just been engraved for eternity.
My friends, like Noah, Lot, Daniel and many others, we may have to live through difficult times, even insurmountable from a human perspective; and no doubt the worst is yet to come. But our Father in Heaven watches over His children “... as a hen gather her brood under her wings ...” (Luke 13:34). So let us not be afraid of coming events, but let us fear God, keep His Commandments and praise Him for who He is, and not only for the good He does to us. We must hope, praise and worship our Lord Jesus Christ because He alone is worthy of it. It is just as simple as that (Revelation 5:11-14a): “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen.”
Is there anything else to add? Presumably not.
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.
Second Sunday after Christmas
LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. 30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel (St. Luke 2:29-32).
Simeon was informed of the Holy Ghost that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And Simeon wasn’t just anybody for St. Luke tells us that he was a just and devout man who was waiting to see the consolation of Israel. And thus being filled with God’s Spirit, he was at the Temple waiting for the Lord to come.
Consider our opening hymn for today: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus. It was written by the hymnist Charles Wesley in 1744 and proclaims the very truth of our gospel lesson.
Come thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Simeon was called to proclaim the presence of the Christ in the Temple and his purpose for coming into our world.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver,
born a child , and yet a king,
born to reign in us for ever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
Simeon was given to see God’s salvation which God had prepared before the face of all people. He would be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of the people of Israel. He would also be that ruler over all mankind described in Revelation 19:16 as KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS who will preside over a kingdom that will never end.
But before the fulfillment of that which he was given to see, Simeon blessed Joseph and Mary and then said to Mary: Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. The revelation of Christ would spark no doubt a satanic-inspired campaign which would result in his death which Mary would witness. Still, in this death he would overcome the same and bring not just himself, but all who would believe on him and trust in his name to everlasting life in his coming kingdom. As Charles Wesley noted in his final verse of his hymn:
By thine own eternal Spirit
rule in all our heart alone:
by thine all sufficient merit
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Anna’s testimony was similar in nature to Simeon’s when she approached and likewise gave thanks unto the Lord before all present who looked for the redemption in Jerusalem. Every soul who claims to love God ought to give thanks for every gift we receive at his hands, but more especially for the free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. In our Order for Daily Morning Prayer we read on page nine the Venite, exultemus Domino wherein we raise our voices in praise with these words:
O come, let us sing unto the LORD, let us heartily
rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
Let us come
before his presence with thanksgiving, and show ourselves glad in him with
psalms.
For the LORD is
a great God, and great King above all gods.
In his hands
are all the corners of the earth; and the strength of the hills is his also.
The sea is his
and he made; and his hands prepared the
dry land.
O come, let us
worship and fall down, and kneel before the LORD our Maker.
For he is the
Lord our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
O worship the
LORD in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth stand in awe of him.
For he cometh,
for he cometh to judge the earth; and with righteousness to judge the world,
and the peoples with his truth.
We come into his presence recognizing the majesty of God and the power and glory he holds both to create and to renew all believers as well as to judge and to punish all those who have refused his offer of salvation in his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. And this is affirmed in St. John’s gospel (3:16-21) wherein we read, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Simeon and Anna were sent to proclaim before those in the Temple that God was indeed among them agreeable to Isaiah 7:14 which states: Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. And Immanuel (or Emmanuel) means as defined in St. Matthew’s gospel: God with us. He was as described in St. John’s gospel (1:1-5 & 14), In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shineth in darkness: and darkness comprehended it not... 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) full of grace and truth.
We ought to fall on our knees in gratitude for what God has done for us in sending his only begotten Son to be sin for us— to take the punishment we rightly deserve and to bring us into his kingdom as ransomed souls fitted for his love and compassion. And God rejoices in every repentant sinner’s appeal to receive his forgiveness and will not turn any away, neither will he remember their sins ever after if they truly have repented. Therefore keep in mind that God is ever ready to hear our prayers and to provide help for us as we journey on the pilgrim’s path to glory. So then take the advice of Simeon, Anna and the apostles and repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Let us pray:
We thank you, O Lord our God, for your gracious hand in our lives. And we ask that you forgive us of all our sins and make of us a people truly regenerated by the power of the Holy Ghost; and this was ask in the name of our Lord and Saviour: Jesus Christ. 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 for the Second Sunday after Christmas
The Epistle: Isaiah : 61:1-3 The Gospel: Matthew. 2:19-23
ALMIGHTY God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word; Grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sometimes we don’t realize that the manifestation of Jesus Christ was not at the beginning of his earthly ministry. Sure, we have the time period from his birth to the Epiphany where we read of prophecies specific to his first Advent being fulfilled. We really don’t read much about Christ’s early life, other than the encounter in the temple when he was twelve.
Our Gospel reading gives us another couple of prophesies fulfilled. Mary, Joseph, and the Christ child leave Bethlehem to flee the wrath of Herod. Herod tries to murder the Savior by having all male children under the age of two killed in the area around Bethlehem. {Jer. 31:15}
They go to Egypt. Another set of prophecies fulfilled. “Out of Egypt have I called my son.” {Hosea 11:1}. The final prophecy in our brief Gospel passage concerns the name ‘Nazarene’.
In this is said to be fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. Which may be looked upon;
(1.) As a man of honour and dignity, though primarily it signifies no more than a man of Nazareth; there is an allusion or mystery in speaking it, speaking Christ to be,
[1.] The Man, the Branch, spoken of in Isaiah 11:1. The word there is Netzar, which signifies either a branch, or the city of Nazareth; in being denominated from that city, he is declared to be that Branch.
In a brief couple of passages from the Bible we can mine a whole set of sermons. We can read of the revealing of the Christ child to the Gentiles [us]. That event is marked by the Epiphany, observed on the 6th of January, exactly twelve days of Christmas. From this time forward we begin to count down to the forty days of Lent which culminate in the death, burial, and glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at Easter time.
I remember as a child growing up in an evangelical church that did not follow any form of a church calendar how confusing it was to go from Christmas to Easter in only four or five months. We went from a little baby to an adult dying on a rude and rough cross, but what happened in between?
When a church follows a church calendar there is so much more thought and lessons given to the mission and ministry of Christ. We understand from the season of Advent the unfolding of the prophecies of the ages. Then to the season of Christmastide and that Gift given by our God and Creator, the once and sufficient sacrifice for our sins, Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
Then we begin the period of Epiphany and the Sundays following as the scripture gives us a picture of the universal or catholic nature of God’s plan for His creations’ salvation. Now a solemn period of Lent, forty days of reflection on the real meaning of the Advent. Finally, the greatest act of sacrifice, God gives His Son for our redemption. He becomes the Lamb of God,
We observe in the Anglican Orthodox Church a monthly communion service which helps us to hold a more special regard to the Holy Supper. And rather than it become so common as to lose all of the rich meaning and message that we find in a less frequent observation of the Holy Supper a time to reflect on the true Gift of God. We do not worship the elements, the creatures of bread and wine, no we worship the King.
We worship the once and for all sacrifice, once given, for the salvation of many, Jesus Christ, who is our propitiation, a sinless sacrifice, who took our place on the cross. It was this gift from God the Father that guarantees our salvation. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Every Sunday is a new beginning.
Every Sunday is a “mini” resurrection.
Every Sunday should be looked upon as a way to face the onslaught of the world, flesh and the devil.
We need to feed upon the Word, we need to refresh ourselves at the Fount of Living Water. We need to know that because He lives we can face tomorrow.
God gives us a gift of life every day, as some say that is why it is called ‘the present’. Let us endeavor to do the Lord’s work, let us worship Him with our labor, let us bring our gifts to His Kingdom, which has no end. Amen.
Let us pray:
Father, Lord God Almighty, we ask that you endue us
with your Holy Spirit. Give us a thirst and a desire to do thy will here at
this present. Give us the strength, knowledge and right mind to be aware of any
opportunity to further the Kingdom. This we ask in the Name of your Son our
Savior, the same Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with thee and the Holy
Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen
ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all wisdom, who knowest our necessities before we ask, and our ignorance in asking; We beseech thee to have compassion upon our infirmities; and those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us, for the worthiness of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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 last week. Please take the time to listen to it.
Sermon for the Second Sunday after Christmas
Click link : https://youtu.be/NMO_pj7VP14
Rev. David
McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama
We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian on Third Sunday in Advent
Second Sunday after Christmas
Jeremiah 31:7-14; Ps 84; Eph 1:3-14; Luke 2:22-40 or Matt 2:1-12
Living without Christ
Fred Craddock once told a parable about a man who moved into a cottage equipped with a stove and simple furnishings. As the sharp edge of winter cut across the landscape, the cottage grew cold as did its occupant. He went out back and pulled a few boards off the house to kindle the fire. The fire was warm, but the house seemed as cold as before. More boards came off for a larger fire to warm the now even colder house, which in return required an even larger fire, demanding more boards. In a few days the man cursed the weather, cursed the house, cursed the stove, and moved away.
The futility that man felt is the futility of those who try to live the Christian life without Christ. He is the Word that was in the beginning with God and was God. And he is alive today. To those of us who are drowning he is someone we can hold on to. He is someone who can set our feet on dry ground again in this New Year.
King Duncan, Collected Sermons, “www.Sermons.com"
"This psalm speaks about the greatness of God, and it speaks to those who are leaders in God’s house today. More than offering programs, social connections, entertainment, excitement, or self- improvement, they must make places and meetings in which people meet the living God. “blueletterbible.org”
1. How lovely is your tabernacle. Hebrew word here is mishkan....”the term ‘mishkan’ primarily refers to the portable sanctuary or tabernacle that the Israelites constructed in the wilderness as a place of worship and the dwelling place of God's presence. It signifies a sacred space where God meets with His people, emphasizing the concept of divine presence and communion.”...biblehub.com More here...“It was meticulously designed according to divine instructions given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25-31). The tabernacle served as the focal point of Israel's religious life, housing the Ark of the Covenant and other sacred furnishings. It was a symbol of God's covenant with Israel and His desire to dwell among His people. The mishkan was later replaced by the permanent structure of the Temple in Jerusalem, built by Solomon.”
Do we have such experiences with worship when we are not at the Church? Our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. God's presence travels with us wherever we may go.
It may be we see something in God's creation that enlightens our spirits such as the red cardinal after a long absence on the fence.
The sparrow finds a nest for herself....where she may lay her young..Even so, Psalm 84:3 tells us about our heavenly home, where we may lay too.
2. The traveler or pilgrim through this life too experiences dry places, the Vally of Baca, but the rain comes and refreshes him. (Psalm 84:4-6)
Some have said this Psalm rivals Ps 23 in its beauty and message. Charles Spurgeon called it " the Pearl of psalms. If the 23rd be the most popular, the 103rd the most joyful, the 119th the most deeply experiental, the 51st the most plaintive(sad and mournful) , this is one of the most sweet of the Psalms of Peace."
In this Psalm we meet the living God. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. (Psalm 84:5)
How do we get there to the presence of God? The Lord has a way of moving us to Him. Sometimes we are needing solitude and to be alone. Other times we need the encouragement of another. In our emptiness we discover He is the only refuge and shield.
3. And we learn as it concludes in Psalm 84:12: “O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee." The pilgrim can trust in the providence and the paths that God directs us to. If we get off the path, He has ways of bringing us back.
Note here how the heart of religion always has been, and is, trust in God.
“This Psalmist, nourished amidst the externalisms of an elaborate ceremonial, and compelled, by the stage of revelation at which he stood, to localise worship in an external Temple, in a fashion that we need not do, had yet attained to the conviction that, in the desert or in the Temple, God was near; that no weary pilgrimage was needed to reach His house, but that with one movement of a trusting heart the man clasped God wherever he was. And that is the living centre of all religion” Alexander Maclaren
I conclude with one of my favorite verses: “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84:10)
We cannot live in the House without Christ. It is empty and void of love and life. For the New Year we should choose to be a doorkeeper in the House of God .
Rev. David Mc Millan
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, Jim Kniffen, Colin, Lowery, Robert,
Prayer Needed:
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 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
All Those in Recovery from Hurricane MILTON
[1] No so surprising a comparison as you might think if you knew little of literature. The great fantasy and children’s writers, John Ronald Reuel (JRR) Tolkien, Clive Stapleton (CS) Lewis and Gilbert Keith (GK) Chesterton were all friends and more importantly, devoted well educated Christians. While they are famous for their apparently secular fantasy writings, there is a Christian theme woven through each of their works.
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