251116 AOC Sunday Report

 

Anglican Orthodox Church _sm

Worldwide Communion

Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity – AOC Founder’s Day

November 16, 2025 - Sunday Report

 

Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity 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 220-222.

 

 

The Collect for Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity

LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 The Epistle for Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity. Philippians i. 3.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.  

 The Gospel for Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity. St. Matthew xviii. 21.

Peter said unto Jesus, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

 

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:

Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.
Psalm 70:1

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Proverbs 25:19

The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Isaiah 52:10

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Jeremiah 17:14

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
St. Luke 6:22

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4

It is one thing to love the ways of the Lord when all is fair, and quite another to cleave to them under all discouragements and difficulties. The kiss of outward profession is very cheap and easy, but the practical cleaving to the Lord, which must show itself in holy decision for truth and holiness, is not so small a matter.
Charles Spurgeon

God will certainly reckon with false and proud men, and will punish and restrain their insolence.
The Rev. Matthew Henry

A friend of mine has a small sign on the wall of his study that reads, “He who has many things, and has Christ, has no more than he who has Christ alone.” How true. What would the believer take in exchange for the benefits of Christ in his life and for his salvation? I think no true believer would exchange Christ for all the wealth and kingdoms of this world, though the world does tempt the marginal believers to make that exchange.
Bishop Jerry Ogles,
The Five Solas: Solus Christus (Part One) p. 31.

 

Jerry Ogles, Presiding Bishop – Metropolitan AOC 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 Blog:
 https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com  

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

 

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

 

Monday Meditation: Roger Young

Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/11/roger-young.html

You Tube Link: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/11/roger-young.html

  

 Tuesday Afternoon Chat: The Prison & The Fortress

Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/11/prison-in-shadows.html

You tube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygRykUTjVcA&t=5s

  

Thursday Meditation

 Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/11/zayander-rud.html

 You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjWZUFcyJsM&t=2s

    

 

 

 Morning Prayer Sermon to be used on:
22^th Sunday after Trinity – November 16^th
Second Sunday Before Advent Liturgy
First Lesson: Isaiah 2:6-19
Second (Gospel) Lesson: Matthew 25:14-29 

The Prayer of Collect. 
O God, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness; Be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy Church; and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect for the day appeals to God, our only true refuge and fortress, and who is the only All-Righteous One, to not only hear our faithful prayers, but to be inclined to answer our request according to your divine will which may not always be in accordance with out own frail request. All prayerful appeals must meet approval of God the Father through God the Son, Jesus Christ.

         Our Old Testament reading from Isaiah 66 relates to the Temple of God and its building. It is not a Temple built with hands, but by the power and Word of God. That Temple is erected in the hearts of the Elect.  Of course, our Lord Jesus Christ even alludes to Himself as the Temple: “¹⁹Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ²⁰Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? ²¹But he spake of the temple of his body.” (John 2:19-21)The elect of God are His body and Temple. How often we regretfully realize that in abusing our bodies with all manner of substances and unwise desires. The Temple of our hearts is not made with hands, but with the Holy Spirit and Power of God.

         In our communion Service, we partake spiritually of the Body and Blood of Christ. The Bread is His Body, but it also represents the full body of the Elect which is the Church. The Bread is unleavened, symbolizing free of sin; and each loaf is comprised of thousands of grains crushed together (demonstrating sacrifice) to form the morsel of which we partake. The whole loaf stands for the Church and Body of Christ.

         Though a mighty Father, God is also inclined, as a mother to a child, to care for His own. The Holy Jerusalem that is to come shall be haven to both Jew and Gentile in that day. Those of all nations, and of the isles afar off shall come to a knowledge of the Lord and sing His praises. It reminds me of the loving Christians of Isabel Island of the Solomon Island chain who sing with such fervor and grandeur as to attract the ear of angels. They sing in the Reformation manner of ante-phonal singing of hymns and Psalms - the women on one side of the sanctuary with very high-pitched voices, and the men on the other with deep, rich masculine voices.

         The Lord will, and has, set a sign among us - the ensign that is Christ, and the Plumbline which points to the all-righteousness of His Person. “All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.” (Isaiah 18:3) and “Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more.” (Amos 7:7-8) Christ is both and Ensign of the Battlefield about which we rally, and the Plumbline that imparts righteousness to the save for the Lord.

In our Gospel from Matthew 25:14-25 we learn:

Our God is a God of wise and frugal economy. He provides all things necessary, but He does not lavish

His people with opulence. True, there are Christians who are wealthy in treasures, but these are dependable

stewards of that wealth in helping the poor and in supporting missionary enterprises.

Too often, we are not satisfied with the one, two or five talents the Lord has blessed us with; but there is

much more to a talent than meets the worldly eye. This is not a devotion on the above parable per se; however,

it provides a good introduction to our study of the talent God gives.

            Whatever talents and gifts the Lord bestows upon us, we are expected to use in the most spiritually remunerative manner, whether it be one or a dozen talents. Each talent is of great value in the hands of a Godly steward

You will recall the poor widow of Luke 21 who cast in her only two mites. That was her sole possession, and she cast it all into the treasury of the Temple. Jesus observed as the wealthy cast in their golden coins of great value; but He was not impressed with those coins given out of great wealth. Those wealthy men and women would scarcely miss that sum; but the widow attracted our Lord’s attention and affection. She gave her

all – her ONE talent so to speak!

We all possess some God given talent – He leaves no one out! Some have a multitude of talents. But do we use the talent, or talents, that we have? Talents are not all denominated in precious metals or government seals. There are talents of art, music, science, mathematics, engineering, and a thousand more. If we are gifted with the talent of music, for example, we need to invest that talent and not bury it in the ground. Talents invested increase phenomenally. I like the following little rhyme of days gone by:

HOW MUCH TO GIVE?

"Go give to the needy sweet charity's bread.

For giving is living," the angel said.

And must I be giving again and again?"

 

My peevish, petulant answer ran.

"Oh, no," said the angel, piercing me through,

"Just give till the Master stops giving to you."

 Several years back, I read of a banker who calculated the value of the widow’s mite at that contemporary period and computed the present-day value at 4% interest compounded semi-annually. The result in increase was more than all the money in circulation in the world today. I have not worked out that progression personally, but believe the result would definitely be a phenomenal amount. 

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

        † Jerry Ogles

 

Charles Morley
Bishop of Alabama
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

 

We are always happy to get the instruction and devotions that Bp Morley is giving to us. We hope you enjoy the following:

 Why Came We Forth Out of Egypt?

      Recent elections in our country seem to have resulted in a turning away from the spirit which gripped the electorate in the last Presidential landslide wherein the conservative Republican candidate secured both the popular and the electoral vote. Other Republicans won victories in unexpected places and the country seemed to be moving in a new direction. But the glow of victory was short lived and it now appears that a strong reaction AGAINST the incumbent president and Congress may ensue. How did apparent reversal of sentiment come about?

     In the Book of Numbers chapter 11, the people of God find themselves in a barren land with very poor food. The Israelites had been used to better and they began to murmur against Moses (and against Jehovah) - wishing for the foods they had so abundantly enjoyed in Egypt. Even in captivity, they had feasted on fresh fruits and vegetables, spices, savories - but even in Taberah, they began to lust for meat. They seemed to forget their liberation from slavery, and presumed that the Lord owed them more than he was already providing. Of a sudden they forgot, even in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant, that the Lord was not only their salvation but also their provider. How quickly the Chosen turned from worship and gratitude toward the Lord to murmuring and faithlessness, openly declaring their desire to return to the land of their misery and shame. The TIMING of their turnaround is right shocking and speaks to a great weakness in human nature. They would give up their God for the smell of onions, leeks, and garlick. 

     Protestantism seems to have fallen on hard times. Even those few denominations that trace their heritage back to the Protestant Reformation seem reluctant to make much of their identity in their current doctrine, discipline, and worship. Of all denominations, Anglican Churches across the globe seem to have abandoned their Protestant identity in favor of something that more closely resembles Roman Catholicism, not only in externals but in doctrine and discipline as well.

       The period of time in which this identity change has occurred is shockingly small, given the nature of change within Church history in times past. In fewer than fifty years, the Protestant identity of American Episcopalians has almost vanished. The extent of this identity change is far reaching, and has now extended to those who self-identify as "Anglican" in contradistinction to "Episcopalian," even though the terms are virtually synonymous.

        Gone are the strictures of Prayer Books usage in traditional Sunday worship. Morning and Evening Prayer have been abandoned in favor of weekly Holy Communion or 'Eucharist' as it is now more commonly called. Referring to the Sacrament as "The Lord's Supper" is now considered an anachronism. Strictures regarding vestments have been replaced by personal taste in clerical haberdashery and church supply houses are far more likely to determine what is worn by the clergy than and bishop or diocesan norm. Gone are the customary Protestant combination of cassock and surplice, replaced by a garment invented by a haberdasher as an 'ecumenical' vestment for all denominations, including Roman Catholics. The Eastern Orthodox have wisely resisted this trend and maintained the distinctive vestiture of their tradition. Anglican now wear anything they choose, and sometimes, as one wag put it "nothing at all."

     Worst of all has been the overwhelming influence of Anglo-Catholicism in Anglicanism which in only a few short years has overtaken the external appearance of Anglican worship - so that it now, especially after Vatican II, is completely indistinguishable from Roman worship. A new Prayer Book copied the liturgical revisions of Rome and even adopted Roman language to more closely resemble the Roman Mass. Clergy even adopted that term to describe "Protestant" worship and delighted in being addressed as "Father" so that the identification with Catholicism was complete. Churches were adorned with Station of the Cross and Paschal candles. Priests and bishops donned chasuables and free- standing altars replaced the historic eastward position of the minister. Bishops appeared in magnificent embroidered copes in place of simple black chimeres, and vied for who could don the tallest mitre and carry the most elaborate crosire - which was supposed to resemble a shepherds crook.

     The Articles of Religion, to which clergy in ages past were required to subscribe, were replaced by the decrees of bishops, either acting collegially or sometimes individually, in determining the doctrine of the Church. The Bible had already been supplanted by the seminaries which ubiquitously embraced Higher Criticism and multifarious translations, and abandoned any sense of authority over the doctrines held by Protestants for hundreds of years. The rise of ecumenism also put an end to the distinctive Protestantism of Anglicans, and placed them at the forefront of the liberal theology of that movement. Gone was any sense of adherence to the Articles as a principal mark of Protestant and Reformed theology, replaced by the Rev. Mr. Huntington's "Chicago Lambeth Quadrilateral" - the quinescence of ecumenical thought, the Articles being demoted to an "historical document" of equal value.

     God's people were cut off from their roots and began to wander in a modernist garble of liberation theology, antinomianism, and egalitarian relativism. The Church which had once discouraged inter-marriage with non- Episcopalians due to the risk of losing their Protestant heritage now happily jettisoned ANY singular identification with that heritage, insofar as dropping the adjective 'Protestant' from the official name of the denomination. The devolution of this historic denomination became so bad that American churchmen sought to identify themselves with a different name and so curiously chose 'Anglican' so as not to be identified with unbelief and liberalism. Trouble is, the name change is no guarantee of orthodoxy as most of the world's Anglicans are so named, so Anglicans can be more "liberal' than any Episcopalian, as the recent appointment of Mrs. Mullaly as Archbishop of Canterbury will not attest.

       So what did these new Anglicans choose to promote? Instead of embracing the spiritual heritage that gave them birth they chose to adopt a crypto-Catholicism in the hope of presenting a positive image of a Church that actually believed in something, and acted according to that belief. Like the ancient Hebrews, they longed for a better time when life was more comfortable and were willing to surrender their freedom for the slave chains of captivity and the whims of their captors. They were willing to surrender all, even their devotion to the one True God for a plate of cucumbers and a bowl of onions. So Anglicans/Episcopalians have surrendered their wonderful and noble heritage as the Church of the Reformation for a bowl of mush, a hodgepodge of religious ideas and a mishmash of liturgical theatrics for what was once called the "stupor mundi" - the faith which spread the true Gospel of biblical faith all across the globe with its own distinctive, doctrine, discipline, and worship.

       It has become almost impossible to explain to enquirers exactly what Anglican believe. The name has been rendered almost meaningless for lack of specific meaning that once defined Protestantism itself. The Faith of our Fathers may no longer be what Anglicans/Episcopalians profess. The Hebrews eventually gave up their desire for the fleshpots of Pharaoh and returned to the God who saved them and kept them. So must we, the Church of God, continue to labor for that meat which perisheth not.

CEM

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

 

 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.

 

 22^nd Sunday after Trinity 

In our epistle lesson for today (Philippians 1:3-11), the apostle Paul gave thanks to God for the faith of the Philippian church and that they would be, confident of this very thing, …⁶that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ... That is the sort of message God would have ministers in his service deliver— encouraging words, comforting words that the congregation would be edified and strengthened in their faith. And with that in mind, let us look back at the man who founded our church and his reasons for doing so.

On this day we celebrate the sixty-second anniversary of the founding of our communion by the Most Rev. James Parker Dees. Bishop Dees took a stand against the ever-spreading apostasy that was then enveloping the Episcopal Church and the other major denominations of that time. And he did so based on his commitment to our Lord for the Bible tells us that we should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints, (St. Jude 3)— that means we are to stand up for God’s word written against all else. And by extension, if any church body abandons God’s word and will not be turned away from error, then faithful Christians must leave those places where the Godhead has been rejected and seek out those places where God’s word is respected and observed. Bishop Dees did just that.

In the Book of Hebrews (13:17), the apostle Paul called upon the faithful to: Obey them that have rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. And with regard to that last passage, the Rev. Matthew Henry noted that, “The duty for Christians is to obey their ministers, follow the faith and do not depart from it. It is not an... absolute submission that is required, but only so far as is agreeable to the mind and will of God revealed in his word.” Bishop Dees was not a schismatic. He followed his overseers until it proved impossible to continue in the true faith under their direction.

Additionally, Matthew Henry reminded his readers that, “Pastors and elders watch for the souls of the people, not to ensnare them but to save them; to gain them not to themselves but to Christ; to build them up in knowledge, faith, and holiness. They are to watch against everything that may be hurtful to the souls of men, and to give them warning of dangerous errors, of the devices of Satan, and of approaching judgments. They are to watch for all opportunities of helping the souls of men forward in the way to heaven.” That last comment encapsulates the motives of Bishop Dees as he was concerned for not only his soul, but for those of others as well. Consider now the familiar words of the apostle Paul who called on the faithful to, ... come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you... (II Corinthians 6:17)

And so since 1963 the Anglican Orthodox Church has remained an independent Anglican body, upholding those doctrines that are firmly grounded upon the inerrant word of God without compromise and without apology. Our church has consistently stood against ecumenism, or the acceptance of all brands of religion regardless of their tenets and doctrines. It has also stood against political correctness, or Cultural Marxism, which is more about silencing criticism rather than preventing injustice. And in that cause, the proponents of such have sought to free themselves from the judgmental aspects of their sinful behaviors as found in Scripture and this explains why they will work to stifle all ideas and views to the contrary.

Additionally, the Anglican Orthodox Church opposes every form of theological liberalism which embraces some or all of the following: the denial of Scripture as inerrant truth; the denial of the virgin birth of our Lord; the denial of individual and hierarchal evil in the personage of the Devil and his hosts of fallen spirits; the denial of the existence of hell as a place of eternal punishment for sin; as well as an acceptance of any number of sinful behaviors which have been plainly prohibited by Scripture. Now many of these errors did not come about overnight, but were introduced gradually so as not to shake the unsuspecting congregants from the comfort of their pews. Only after some of the more controversial elements were introduced did there arise cries against such by the faithful. Alas, by that time the leadership positions within those church bodies were so compromised that there was little hope of recovering that which was lost. It was gone, having mutated into another belief system that follows another gospel and, by inference, worships another Christ (see Galatians 1:6-9).

Ergo, in the light of these and other issues which were and are being foisted upon regenerated souls in Christ, we honor Bishop Dees in his effort to found an episcopal body that would remain faithful to God’s word written in spite of all that was arrayed against him. And he sought to educate young men in the fundamentals of sound doctrine and worship. He might be compared to the noble Epaphras of Colosse (Colossians 1:7-8) in that he was a learned and faithful minister of Christ and was well-grounded in the knowledge of the Scriptures. So when the naysayers criticize us because we hold to the foundational doctrines of Anglican Christianity, my reply is simple: We are remaining faithful to our Lord’s commands and we will not give them up for whatever prize the devil and his earthly puppets might dangle before us. Bishop Dees resisted such in 1963, and we are obliged to do likewise. As we remember his sacrifices and his trials, let us vow to keep our church firmly grounded on the Rock of Christ and his word written. May it please our heavenly Father to assist each of us in this quest as we await our Lord’s return.

Let us pray:

Dear LORD, who art the author of all sound doctrine; guide this our Anglican Orthodox Church into all truth; and fill our ministers and members with thy most holy Spirit; that through our witness, we will bear fruit in thy service; and this we ask in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

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

 

Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity Sermon - MP

 Psalms 32,43; First Lesson: Numbers 20:14-29; Second Lesson: Matthew 18:7-20

                                                              hymns # 609, 441, 565

 LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

      As an interesting point, the second Psalm reading for this date in Morning Prayer includes the five part aspect that David brought forth in the psalm. God is his judge, his strength, his guide, his joy and his hope.   

   When we look at the latter days of our founding bishop’s ministry, we see a similar concept coming into view.  Bp J.P. Dees would, in his life and ministry, show that he like David relied upon God for these five aspects of his walk with God.  

     Bishop Dees did not care that his contemporaries and erstwhile compatriots had abandoned him when he stepped out to follow God not man. God was his judge. The good bishop relied upon God to be his strength (when all others seemed to abandon him), his guide when no one of his conviction seemed to come to his side and go with him. And we know most certainly, that God was bishop Dees hope and joy.  

    Our first bishop turned to God in hope, he turned to God in joy, for he knew that it did not come from those who mocked him, those who scorned him, those who left him for fear of their own reputations. 

     James Parker Dees, a Bishop of Vision and Courage – (1915-1990) Few would have suspected that a member of the New York Opera Company would become a bishop who would wage war against a corrupt and arrogant branch of the Church of England – the Episcopal Church. But Bishop James Parker Dees was just such a fellow. Bishop Dees was ordained in 1949 following his graduation from Virginia Theological Seminary. After serving charges in Beaufort and Statesville (to include serving as rector of an all-black church in Statesville), the Rev Dees became disillusioned with the unbiblical teachings of the Episcopal Church. He strongly objected to the teaching of men such as Bishop Pike who was in obvious disregard of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion and the Holy Bible itself. Realizing that the actions of Pike were egregious enough to warrant his being brought up on charges before the Church Court, he filed charges under the Church Canons to have this action taken. Though the charges were unquestionably factual, the Church took no measures against Pike. Other issues involving infidelity to Holy Writ, a lowered view of the marriage covenant, and intensifying liberal tendencies drove Dees to separate from ECUSA in 1963 and form the Anglican Orthodox Church.

     Clergy who had assured Dees of their support and loyalty deserted him. He was consecrated a bishop by Bishop Wasyl Sawyna of the Holy Ukrainian Autocephalic Orthodox Church of North and South America, assisted by Bishop Orlando Jacques Woodward of Old Catholic succession, on March 15, 1964. 

     Clergymen from the local Episcopal churches demonstrated, day and night, on the side walk in front of his home with placards and loudspeakers. But Dees, never wavered in his conviction and determination to preserve the faith of the Reformation. He insisted on strict conformity to the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, the traditional Book of Common Prayer, and the Received Text versions of the Holy Bible as the arbiter of all truth and doctrine. Expending much of his personal and family savings to sustain the church, Bishop Dees was successful in maintaining a Remnant of the true Gospel among the purveyors of heresy and apostasy. The church grew, under his wise oversight, to include more than twenty foreign national churches. Dees founded the Orthodox Anglican Church to act as an ecclesiastical umbrella for these foreign churches, but still remaining an organ the Anglican Orthodox Church. He never slumbered nor rested in his zeal to serve God and to build His Church.

     Bishop Dees underwent non-life-threatening surgery in December of 1990, but died a few days later as a result of complications of pneumonia. It was on Christmas Day that he died, and five days short of his seventy fifth birthday.

     Like the Reformers of old, Bishop Dees discovered that the modern church had become corrupt and heretical. It needed reforming, and Bishop James Parker Dees was that Reformer of our Modern times. We shall ever be thankful to God for such men!

    For the rest of this study I am going to turn to that classic Bible scholar, Matthew Henry and his commentary on Psalm 43.

David here makes application to God, by faith and prayer, as his judge, his strength, his guide, his joy, his hope, with suitable affections and expressions.

I. As his Judge, his righteous Judge, who he knew would judge him, and who (being conscious of his own integrity) he knew would judge for him (Ps. 43:1): Judge me, O God! and plead my cause... There were those that impeached him; against them he is defendant, and from their courts, where he stood unjustly convicted and condemned, he appeals to the court of heaven, the supreme judicature, praying to have their judgment given against him reversed and his innocency cleared. There were those that had injured him; against them he is plaintiff, and exhibits his complaint to him who is the avenger of wrong, praying for justice for himself and upon them.  

II. As his strength, his all-sufficient strength; so he eyes God (Ps. 43:2): “Thou art the God of my strength…”, my God, my strength, from whom all my strength is derived, in whom I strengthen myself, who hast often strengthened me, and without whom I am weak as water and utterly unable either to do or suffer any thing for thee. David now went mourning, destitute of spiritual joys, yet he found God to be the God of his strength. If we cannot comfort ourselves in God, we may stay ourselves upon him, and may have spiritual supports when we want spiritual delights. David here pleads this with God: “Thou art the God on whom I depend as my strength; why then dost thou cast me off?” This was a mistake; for God never cast off any that trusted in him, whatever melancholy apprehensions they may have had of their own state. “Thou art the God of my strength…; why then is my enemy too strong for me, and …why go I mourning because of the oppressision of the enemy?” It is hard to reconcile the mighty force of the church’s enemies with the almighty power of the church’s God; but the day will reconcile them when all his enemies shall become his footstool.

III. As his guide, his faithful guide (Ps. 43:3): …Lead me, let them bring me to thy holy hill…. He prays,

1. That God by his providence would bring him back from his banishment, and open a way for him again to the free enjoyment of the privileges of God’s sanctuary. His heart is upon the holy hill and the tabernacles, not upon his family-comforts, his court-preferments, or his diversions; he could bear the want of these, but he is impatient to see God’s tabernacles again; nothing so amiable in his eyes as those; thither he would gladly be brought back. In order to this he prays, “Send out thy light and thy truth…;” let me have this as a fruit of thy favour, which is light, and the performance of thy promise, which is truth. We need desire no more to make us happy than the good that flows from God’s favour and is included in his promise. That mercy, that truth, is enough, is all; and, when we see these in God’s providences, we see ourselves under a very safe conduct. 

IV. As his joy, his exceeding joy. If God guide him to his tabernacles, if he restore him to his former liberties, he knows very well what he has to do: Then will I go unto the altar of God, Ps. 43:4. He will get as near as he can unto God, his …exceeding joy...:  The nearer we come, the closer we cleave, to God, the better.

1. Those that come to the altar of God must see to it that therein they come unto God, and draw near to him with the heart, with a true heart: we come in vain to holy ordinances if we do not in them come to the holy God.

2. Those that come unto God must come to him as their exceeding joy, not only as their future bliss, but as their present joy, and that not a common, but an exceeding joy, far exceeding all the joys of sense and time. The phrase, in the original, is very emphatic—unto God the gladness of my joy, or of my triumph. Whatever we rejoice or triumph in God must be the joy of it; all our joy in it must terminate in him, and must pass through the gift to the giver.

3. When we come to God as our exceeding joy our comforts in him must be the matter of our praises to him as God, and our God: …Upon the harp will I praise thee, O God! my God. David excelled at the harp (, and with that in which he excelled he would praise God; for God is to be praised with the best we have; it is fit he should be, for he is the best.

V. As his hope, his never-failing hope, Ps. 43:5. Here, as before, David quarrels with himself for his dejections and despondencies, and owns he did ill to yield to them, and that he had no reason to do so: Why art thou cast down, O my soul?... He then quiets himself in the believing expectation he had of giving glory to God (…Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him…) and of enjoying glory with God: He, …Who is the health of my countenance and my God. That is what we cannot too much insist upon, for it is what we must live and die by. From Matthew Henry Commentary on the Holy Bible

 Let us pray:

Almighty and ever living God, we yield unto Thee most high praise and hearty thanks, for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in our founding bishop, James Parker Dees of Thy Church in America and throughout the world, who has given unto us Thy holy Word in a language understood of the People, together with a rich heritage of civil and religious freedom, and the blessings of Apostolic faith, order, fellowship and worship. And we pray that Thou wouldest vouchsafe to give us grace so to follow the example of his steadfastness in Thy faith, even unto death, and of his obedience to Thy holy commandments, that at the day of the general Resurrection, we, together with him, may obtain a good report through faith, receive Thy heavenly promises, and enter upon our perfect consummation and bliss in Thy kingdom, eternal in the heavens. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

 

O eternal and everlasting God, the Life and the Resurrection of all that believe in Thee, trust Thee, and serve Thee; that art always to be praised as well for the departed as for such as be still living upon the earth; We give Thee most hearty thanks for Thy servant who has (or, who as on this day) entered into rest; beseeching Thee to show forth upon Thy whole Church, in Paradise and on earth, the bright beams of Thy light and heavenly comfort, and to grant that we who are alive this day may follow the steps of all those who have served and loved Thee here, and have gone before us, in the confession of Thy holy Name, that with them we may at length enter into Thine unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Beloved, go in peace, in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen

 +Roy Morales-Kuhn

 

Rev. David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama

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

Twenty- Second Sunday after Trinity

 Hymn Singing and Getting Going

    One of the weeks we just experienced in the 1928 liturgy in the 21st Sunday after Trinity was a lesson from Ephesians 6. It is a familiar one, but we struggle with its application. We should not be without our spiritual armour as we go through our day. 

I find that what gets me going and is helpful is not only our own liturgy, but the wonderful hymnal that we have to use---1940 Episcopal hymnal. What gets you going in the right direction in your day? Of course, the liturgy of Morning and Evening Prayer is a tremendous help to us. I seem to need a kick often to get on the right path. Yes, even ordained clergy struggle! When I was in the US Army of course we had the Physical Training at 6:30 am. That was a big boost. We ran usually and did some silly sit ups and push-ups. In the same manner we need to be boosted in the spiritual realm of our souls.

Hymns are so helpful and especially the ones that encourage us. Hymn 555 in the 1940 hymnal was so enlightening to me. It seems to fit our struggle against "the wiles of the devil "(p. 219 Prayer Book 1928 from Ephesians chapter six. Look at I Peter 5:8. It is the verse to think about here, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking  whom, he may devour."

Here are the lyrics to Hymn 555. The tune is also very singable.... CLICK LINK TO Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIPfzv0r3Cw

My soul, be on thy guard;
Ten thousand foes arise;
And hosts of sin are pressing hard
To draw thee from the skies.

Oh, watch, and fight, and pray!
The battle ne’er give o’er;
Renew it boldly every day,
And help divine implore.

Ne’er think the vict’ry won,
Nor once at ease sit down:
Thine arduous work will not be done
Till thou hast got the crown.

Fight on, my soul, till death
Shall bring thee to thy God!
He’ll take thee at thy parting breath,
Up to His blest abode.

   Sometimes a familiar tune can help us get going in the way of righteousness and service to God. It often helps---the singing of Psalms is such an example as well (Satan is powerless against the proper singing of Scripture). Or it could be a prayer partner, perhaps as well a good mentor to allow us to share our struggles. A friend will certainly do for that too. 

The hymn above was written by Rev. George Heath 1745-1822. He was a Presbyterian for a time (he was dismissed for cause according to what I read, but I don't know the reason), and for some reason found his way into a Unitarian group (not a good theology at all there)...but eventually became Anglican. I like what is said after this is noted, "The hymn's primary goal is to encourage spiritual watchfulness and steadfastness in the Christian life. It is written in 6.6.8.6 meter and presents vivid imagery of spiritual conflict and persistent prayer. (from bing search/copilot about Heath)

1. "My soul be on thy guard" is a theme certainly of this hymn. We can be taken in by false views which tend to unwind our steps toward growing in holiness. Some views in theology and thinking may look good, but they are actually not true Biblically. We must test all of these things that come at us by Scripture.

I Peter 5:8 is the key here.  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"

"It is not sufficient for any man to run well for a season only. We must endure to the end, if ever we would be saved. Whatever your attainments may be, and whatever you may have done or suffered in the service of your God, you must forget the things that are behind, till you have actually fulfilled your course and obtained the crown." - Rev'd Charles Simeon (1759-1836), English evangelical Anglican (from a friend who shared this on fb)

"The Seven Deadly sins are (an abomination to the Lord: See, Proverbs 6:16-19;): pride, envy, wrath, sloth, avarice, gluttony and lust---The Seven Holy Virtues stated in 2 Peter 1:3-8 and Galatians 5:22-23, are: humility, kindness, patience, diligence, temperance, abstinence, and chastity. 

2. O Watch and fight and pray, Renew it boldly every day.

I sometimes think we are not bold enough to stand against the things we know are sins, and not good for us either in our Christian lives. Taking a good rounded hour or less in our devotional lives is a good start. I find the 1928 Prayer Book lessons, a great way to begin. Whatever we use, the Scriptures should be at the heart of our prayer lives.

I also find good assistance from written prayers. Some object to that, but I see written prayers in the Bible. Mary's Song is an example of that in Luke 1:46-.....We know it as the Magnificat, My Soul doth magnify the Lord, in the Evening Prayer office. The Lord's Prayer is another example of a prayer we say. It is not just a model for prayer. It should be said too.

We need to follow the saints of God in our quest for holiness and service. The models we have today are not helpful in many things. Our culture as we know follows sin to the extent that they go right up to the line of total debauchery and foolishness. Unfortunately, we need to realize that the older models were the better ones, not the ones in vogue now.

3. Lastly another good source for us to consider are the wonderful things in the 1928 BCP that we can sing. The Canticles in Morning and Evening Prayer are singable, the Venite (Psalm 95), others that we have already mentioned. Personally, I find these to be of great help in my days of meditation upon the Scriptures. They are mostly Scripture themselves or take their meaning from Scripture. 

The Te Deum laudamus (page 10, 1928 BCP) is an ancient Christian hymn is an outstanding canticle to sing in anytime of the year. The parts glorify Christ especially in His humanity and Divinity. The second part changes tune and helps us in so many ways to lean on God's eternal Son.

Te Deum Laudamus.

T

HOU art the King of Glory, O Christ.
    Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.

    When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst humble thyself to be born of a Virgin.

    When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.

    Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.

    We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge.

    We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.

    Make them to be numbered with thy Saints, in glory everlasting.

 I conclude these short thoughts to encourage us all to say the liturgy, but also to sing so much of it, its hymns, and Canticles are full of deep Biblical truths to glorify God.  Happy singing in the traditional forms of worship.  I have found so much to learn and sing about in these places of the liturgy.

 

The Rev. Don Fultz
Rector of St. Peter’s AOC located in the AOC National Office

 We are grateful to have thiss sermon today from the Rev. Don Fultz from St. Peter's AOC, Statesville, NC.

Twenty- Second Sunday after Trinity

 

Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21-35

Have you ever been hurt or sinned against by another person?  Possibly a spouse or a sibling?   Maybe you have been offended by some disagreement with a neighbor. Or possibly, you have gotten into a heated argument with a co-worker who has said something negative about you.  Do you sulk until you receive an apology?  Or are you still holding a grudge or malice in your heart waiting for an apology?  Are these the right responses?  Every knows we should be forgiving….correct? 

So what does the bible tell us about forgiveness?  Jesus in his sermon on the mount says in Matthew 6: 14: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Jesus also told his disciples about praying in Mark 11 :( 25-26) “²⁵And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. ²⁶But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”  Matthew Henry in his commentary on these two verses tells us (MHC) “²⁵This is the necessary qualifications of prevailing prayer, that we freely forgive those who have been any way injurious to us.  When we are at prayer, we must remember to pray for others, particularly for our enemies and those who have wronged us. We cannot pray sincerely that God would do them good if we bear malice to them and wish them ill.  If we have injured others, before we pray we must go and be reconciled to them. (Matt. 5:23-24) But if they have injured us we must immediately, from our hearts, forgive them.  The lack of forgiveness is a bar to obtaining the pardon of our sins…… ²⁶If you do not forgive those who have injured you, if you hate them, bear them a grudge, mediate revenge, and take all occasions to speak ill of them, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

So, how often, should we forgive someone of their offenses against us?  St. Peter ask this same question to Jesus in Matthew 18:21, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?”  Peter thought he was overly generous with this number.  Seeing that according to Jewish tradition, a Jew was to forgive someone up to 3 times. So he doubled the number and added 1 to reach the number of perfection in the bible, which is 7. 

So what was Jesus Response?  In verse 22, He says “I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”  Jesus is not saying we should just forgive someone up to 490 times. It is not a matter of mathematics. The general rule He laid down was we are to forgive others to the uttermost!

Jesus also says in “Luke 17: (3-4) “³Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee rebuke him; and if he repents forgive him. ⁴And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt be forgiven.” What Jesus is telling us is that we should have a general spirit of mercy and forgiveness towards our brethren.  However, Jesus is not saying that criminal or civil offences should be ignored and not dealt with in accordance with the law. Neither is He saying that we should exempt from punishment those people who commit thefts and assaults. What He is telling us is that we should have a heart full of love and compassion and mercy towards our fellow human being. We are to bear much and put up with much, rather than quarrel. 

We are not to have any malice, revenge, or retaliation towards others even if they offend us.  Such feelings are not worthy for a disciple of Christ.  Christians are expected to be striving for perfection in their lives just as Jesus tells us in Matt. 5:48: “Be ye therefore perfect, even, as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.”  

God is merciful and gracious, and He is willing to keep on forgiving us without any limits and He expects the same from us. Jesus said that the measure in which we are forgiving is the same standard that God will use in forgiving us. (Matt. 6:15) God’s ways are very different from ours. God’s forgiveness is not based on standards we determine, but on the standards He established in his Holy Word. As we truly understand God’s gracious forgiveness in our lives, we will naturally want to express this same forgiveness to others.

Just as St Paul tells us in Colossians 3:13 “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any:  even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Jesus supplies us with two powerful motives for exercising a forgiving spirit.  He tells us a parable of a servant who owed an enormous sum (10,000 talents) to his master, and he had “nothing to pay;” nevertheless at the time of reckoning his master had compassion on him, and “forgave him all.” A talent was the largest denomination of money used in their system at the time. One talent was equal to approximately 20 years of wages for a day labor. So, 10,000 talents would be like a Kings ransom rather than a common servant’s debt.

Jesus used the kingdom of heaven quite often for comparison purposes in his parables. The king represented in this parable is God the Father. The servant is likened into you and me.  The Jewish concept of sin (figuratively) is that of debt. 

This principle is clearly presented in the Lord’s prayer we recite every Sunday  “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” (Matt. 6:12) The servant’s condition illustrates our state before God. We have all incurred a considerable amount of debt (10,000 talents) due to our many and great sins against God.  In this parable, Jesus is saying our sin debt to God is so great that we could never repay it ourselves.  This servant was faced with the same problem so instead of him and his family being sold unto slavery (Roman law), he fell down on his knees and begged for mercy.  The king showed compassion on him and forgave him this enormous debt!  Just like God will do for us if we confess and repent our sins to Him.  In Jeremiah 31:34, God says: “I will forgive their inquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Then Jesus tells us that this same servant, after being forgiven himself, refused to forgive a fellow servant a small debt of only 100 pence. (a little over 3 months wages). Then we are told the servant laid hands on his fellow servant and took him by the throat and demanded payment. We are told that the fellow servant (Matthew 18:29) …fell down at his feet, saying have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  Then Jesus tells in verse 30, “He would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.”  Some of the other fellow servants saw what had been done (Matt. 18:31) and went to the King and told him. Then, He tells us how punishment overtook this wicked and cruel man, who, after receiving mercy, ought surely to have shown mercy to others: and finally Jesus concludes the parable with the impressive words, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”

It is clear from this parable that one motive for forgiving others should be a reminder to us that we all need forgiveness at God’s hands ourselves. The parable before us is a powerful reminder about the mercy and forgiveness of God towards our sin. 

There are other powerful real stories of forgiveness in both the Old and New testaments. One of the most compelling stories of Forgiveness is the story of Joseph and his brothers. (Genesis 37, 41, 46) Betrayed by his brothers out of jealousy, Joseph (the 2^nd youngest son of Jacob) was sold into slavery for 20 pieces of silver. Despite the many hardships he faced (imprisonment, etc), with God’s help,he rose to become the 2^nd most powerful person in Egypt. Years later, during a famine, his older brothers came to Egypt seeking food and grain, not knowing they were dealing with their brother whom they had betrayed.  However, Joseph recognized his brothers and chose to forgive them instead of seeking revenge. Joseph knew that he was subject to the same standards he applies to the erring brothers and for this reason he is slow to condemn the erring brothers, and quick to forgive. He is also keenly aware of his own mountain of faults and vices. They are much more serious in his eyes than the sins of others.  And since he does not want to be dealt with according to the severity of the divine law but according to mercy, he also uses this standard when judging the words and actions of others, especially his own brothers.

One of the most powerful Act of Forgiveness, can be found in the New Testament when Jesus, while hanging on the cross, Prays to God the Father “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do….” (Luke 23:34)  In the midst of his excruciating suffering, the heart of Jesus was focused on others rather than himself.   Here He showed the true nature of his love - Unconditional and divine.  This act of immense forgiveness is a lesson for us all.  If Jesus could forgive even in his darkest hour, it challenges us to reconsider the grudges we may hold in our relationships. 

St Paul says in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God.” Every day we are coming short in many things, “leaving undone what we ought to do, and doing what we ought not to do:” Day after day we require God’s mercy and pardon. Our neighbor’s offences against us are very small when compared with our offences against God.  

Another motive for forgiving others ought to be a reminder to us of the day of judgement, and the standard by which we shall all be tried on that day. There will be no forgiveness on that day for unforgiving people. Therefore, like our Father in heaven, let us be forgiving. Has any man injured us?  Let us this day forgive him. 

In closing, let us remember the words of St. Paul tells in Ephesians 4:31-32: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; ³²and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”  

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

Rev. Don Fultz+

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.

Prayer Needed:

Sandy – broken Femur

Ophelia – crippling arthritis pain

Bobby - Cancer

Effie – recent discharge from hospital following pneumonia and possible CHF

Kamil – pray for successful – Chemotherapy

Paul Meier – throat cancer- radiation treatment successful

Richard Bailey – Brain Cancer

Joyce Barnes – Skin Cancer – Mohls Procedure Surgery to remove December 3

Ollie – 5 years old – lump above ear – consultation with neurosurgeon

Marilee – Mastectomy Update – completed chemo, she has a month break before radiation begins

Roy – Bulging disc – upcoming surgery

Michelle – metasicized lung cancer

Jim – Dec. 11^th Heart Ablation

 

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

Betsey – Lane – Betsy onset of Dementia- Marianne her daughter

South Korea – pray to defeat the communists trying to take over; protection for the South Korean people.

Church of the Redeemer – changes in leadership, mourning loss of a wonderful Minister and Friend

 

Keep Praying for the following:

Shamu-health issues, Jan Jessup-neuro dementia, AOC USA, AOC Missions, Harper-IBS ,
Jim Sevier- God’s Peace, Linda – multiple myeloma, Marianne, Betsey - Dementia, Donna-chemotherapy, Alicia-caregiver, Sophie, Colin and Lori Beall – cancer, Toni – cancer, Malou – cancer, Archie, Eloise, Janice, Dakota, Katie, Finley, Mike & Gayle