260823 AOC Sunday Report
Worldwide Communion
Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
August 23, 2026
Sunday Report
Twelfth Sunday after Trinty
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 in the Book of Common Prayer page 206-207.
The Collect for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Epistle for Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. 2 Corinthians. iii. 4.
SUCH trust have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and en-graven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
The Gospel for Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. St. Mark. vii. 31.
JESUS, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; and were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
On Point: The Family Altar
"Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." Isaiah. 41:10.
How concerned our merciful God must be about our happiness when He calls to us so often and so lovingly in His blessed Word: Fear not! It is said these cheering words occur over seventy times in Holy Scripture. They prove, indeed, that God's children will often have reason to fear while sojourning in this evil world. We of the present time have also much cause to fear. Whither we look, we see dark storm-clouds that bode great ill to our beloved country and to our dear Church. When we look into our private lives, when we see what little advance we make in purity and holiness, what sad experiences so often come to us in our family life, what insurmountable obstacles we meet with in our daily profession, — we are often filled with dire apprehension, and our hearts are ready to fail us. Over against such a sea of trouble we feel how helpless, how weak we are. But the more we realize our weakness, the better it is for us; for then God's strength can be made perfect in our weakness. Learning to give up all self-reliance, all trust in our own power and wisdom, and trusting with childlike faith in the supreme power, wisdom, and love of our God and Savior, we acquire that precious thing — a heart established by grace. Though the mountains depart and the hills be removed, we do not fear as those that have no hope; for we know the Lord, our God, is with us and keeps His glorious promise here: "I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." Though He may delay His help for a time, still we have no reason to be filled with dread ; for He cannot break His divine promise. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but never the sure Word of our God. Then let us take this gracious promise of His into our daily life and quietly wait on the Lord.
The saints
should never be dismayed,
Nor sink in
hopeless fear;
For when they
least expect His aid,
The Savior will
appear.
Wait for His
seasonable aid,
And though it
tarry, wait;
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
Midweek Devotional Video: Wandering Stars
Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/08/youtube-video-player_0763727548.html
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-uXy3oirDw
Video Teaching on the Law and Grace
Bishop’s Blog https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/08/youtube-video-player_01100720319.html
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmNX1X-Jspk
Saturday Devotional Video: The Light of the World
Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/08/youtube-video-player_01566106992.html
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq3lBzceOUE
Sermon Summary for the 12th Sunday in Trinity: Hear & Speak
Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/08/youtube-video-player_0563858615.html
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5xcenKGrtA
Love Divine all Loves Excelling
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." Song of Solomon 2:4
The subject of love is perhaps the most important of all to us because that is the subject around which God's Word is centered. Many have wondered, "If God is love, how can He send sinners to a burning Hell?" The answer of course is simple - God SENDS no one to Hell, those who awaken in Hell have sent themselves there through unrepented sins. God cannot look upon sin. God resides in Heaven. He will not brood sin in Heaven - PERIOD! God's love is shed abroad in our hearts, "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" – (Romans 5:5), but all love needs some reciprocation. It must bear an echo else it misses its mark. We could not have loved God had His love not been first shed abroad in our hearts. "We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
Today's hymn, Love Divine all Loves Excelling, describes in music and word-picture that exceeding love of God that came down to us and was made man in the form of His only Begotten Son, Jesus.
The hymn was composed by Mr. Charles Wesley (brother of John) while on horseback during one of his many sorties into rural England in 1747. The most popular tune to which this hymn is sung is Beecher by John Zundel. Other tunes are 'Airedale' by C.V. Stanford; 'Blaenwern' by Wm. P. Rowlands; 'Hyfrydol’ by Rowland H. Prichard; Love Divine by John Stainer; and 'Moriah' a traditional Welsh tune. My personal preference is 'Blaenwern'.
This hymn is actually a prayer as well as a hymn of praise. It pleads His Presence, His visitation, His indwelling, and His deliverance among other things.
How can we say, with absolute certainty, that the Love of God is Divine? He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8) In a sense, the title is misleading for all love comes from God.
Love Divine all Loves Excelling
1. Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.
2. Come, almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
3. Finish then thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down, fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art; visit us with thy salvation, enter every trembling heart. It was the love of God that moved Him to create the world and all that is in it; to make a beautiful garden for His first mankind. It was love that awakened Abraham to His presence; and it was His Love that God demonstrated to Abraham in testing His faith with Isaac. Abraham thereby knew better by what measure of love God would send, not some other, but His own only Begotten Son as a sacrifice. God seeks a humble dwelling, not one made with the hands of the artisan and mason, but a dwelling of flesh. He makes His abode in our hearts. Yes, the love of Christ is unbounded and immeasurable. (Like Father, like Son) His love is the kind that feels not only sympathy, but a COMPASSION that dictates action. If the heart trembles with repentance, it will be a welcome home for Christ!
Come, almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive; suddenly return, and never, nevermore thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above, pray, and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love. Remember the Lord's Prayer that we recite, perhaps too mechanically, each worship service? Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. When we repeat those words, do we truly MEAN them; or, have we taken the LORD's Name in vain? We should desperately desire that the Lord Jesus Christ would come into our hearts as His Temple, and make Himself a home there. We truly are His Temple! Deliver us from evil! Christ is our Deliverer, and He is able! If we are IN Christ; and He is IN our hearts, we have the eternity of His life joined to our own mortal life - and we are changed! We must desire always to praise our Lord and glorify His Beautiful Name and Perfect LOVE!
Finish then thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be; let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee: changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place, till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise. Has God finished His creation in YOU? No, I am sorry to say that you need much work to reach that sanctity that Christ will bring to perfection in due course. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Cor 5:17) If you are not made a new creature from that old drab and sinful person you were from birth, then you do not belong to our Lord. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. (Rev 21:5) The Perfect Law of Liberty is realized when we shed these old sinful, self-wills (free wills are not free but are in bondage to the devil), and take upon us the Mind and will of Christ. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. (Phil 2:5) Here is a bit of a mystery: When we come to Christ we do not need to stop doing those things that make us happy; however, the former things that made us happy no longer prevail. Our desires change and become those that the Lord desires for us. Suddenly, we enjoy a perfect liberty that we never before experienced because we are made NEW in Christ. We were not able to change ourselves, or amend our desires - it was Christ dwelling in our hearts that made the change and the new Creation.
I like this hymn very much because it describes the one thing that mortal souls can claim as eternal - LOVE. Love is stronger than any earthly power and even survives death: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39) Please note that even DEATH cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus! If we are in Christ, and our loved ones are in Christ (or One with Christ), then we are forever together in that love though we were dead! I hope you were able to grasp that truth for it is very consoling.
Unfortunately, our 1940 Hymnal omits one verse that has great power in this hymn. I include it here: Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit, Into every troubled breast! Let us all in Thee inherit; Let us find that second rest. Take away our bent to sinning; Alpha and Omega be; End of faith, as its Beginning, Set our hearts at liberty. God at first breathed the breath of life into man's nostrils, but the old man fell from grace through the sins of Eden. So man must be made anew, so God breathes a new nature into man by way of the Holy Ghost - His loving Spirit! In Christ, we inherit that which is His - Eternal Life! We come to the last day of God's new Creation in that coming Sabbath Rest. Just as the first man Adam had a Sabbath Rest at last from worldly labors, we have an eternal Rest (Sabbath) in the second Adam (Jesus Christ). The sin nature (desire to sin overtly) is taken away when we receive Christ and His will for our lives. He is the Whole Word as defined in John 1:1-4; and He is the Beginning of the Creation of God and the End of it.
He is Alpha and Omega - the first and last letter of every alphabet, and every letter in between.
Is His Name written upon the Banner of your Heart today?
Roy Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor
Saint Paul's
Anglican Church - Diocese of the Midwest
Anglican Orthodox Church
Suffragan Bishop of the AOC
Morning Prayer – Twelfth Sunday after trinity
Psalms 139; First lesson: Genesis 41:1a, 8, 14-40; Second lesson: Colossians 3:22- 4:6
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
S. V. M. P.
Hymns #416, 491,464
There is so many concepts packed into our New Testament lesson this morning. We are looking at servanthood, vocation, mission, and purpose.
1. Servanthood: what do I mean by this term? If we look at the work ethic of most areas of employment, whether private or public, we see a severe lack of service to the job.
How often do we find that something has been done half way or in a slipshod manner, no pride is taken in getting the job done well, on time, or correct? Why does this seem to be happening? If we remove God from the workplace, a supreme being who sees all, then the worker can do anything they want. We see this trend coming into modern Western society over the last 200 years. With the advent of the Darwinian or Marx/Engel concept of humanity, there is no heaven, there is no supreme being to judge or notice our daily labors, it is all about today. If you remove God from society then you will have an “anything goes” attitude about life. ‘I don’t have to worry about my behavior, because there will be no consequences for such behavior.’ Gone is the idea that you work for the Glory of God, not for the master/employer. The idea of doing a good job because it reflects upon the Lord seems to have taken a back seat. Workers just want to be compensated, level or quality of production is not a key to that compensation. 22Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
I saw this attitude in schools. The twenty-eight years of experience in public schools showed me a student body that was less interested in learning for the reward of learning but instead learned for the reward of a high mark. The average student didn’t seem to look at the skill of learning new concepts or techniques rather the question came up regularly. “what is in it for me, or will I get a grade for this or how much is this worth?” Very seldom was there any idea of ‘...do it heartily, as to the Lord...’ .
Even in the secular-progressive school systems, the idea of learning for the sheer pleasure of obtaining a new skill or concept, rather there/is the emphasis on how this will translate into earning power or job advancement is center of most student driven work. It is really sad when you find the student is not interested in knowing new ideas or concepts, but how much will this make for me in a future salary.
2. Vocation: what do we mean by vocation? Is it possible to seek a profession that will aid in the advancement of the Kingdom of God rather than the advancement of the individual who undertakes that profession? Now understand there is no prohibition towards wealth in the Bible.
The warning is against the abuse or misuse of that wealth or placing that wealth in the way of worshiping the Lord. That is not the issue here.
What I mean is the idea of doing a job because it serves the Lord. Learning a skill or profession that will reflect ones belief in the Creator, rather than just help that individual earn a living. I think we have lost the concept of vocation in Western civilization. 6Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. 5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
3. Mission: closely connected to vocation is the idea or concept of mission. Some could argue that they are one in the same. Not necessarily. Let us look at the concept of mission. Defining mission as ‘reaching your community for Christ’, we can see that pertains to where ever one lives. 2Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ,… You do not have to travel to far off countries to find a mission in life. Everyday is a day on the mission field. This is why it is important to do your job well and without complaint. If you look around, there are many folk who are complaining about their work, grousing about the boss, the job, the workplace, all the while happily cashing the pay check at the end of the pay period. What is wrong with that? The non-believer looks at a professed Christian who behaves this way and thinks, why bother with Christ? They behave like everyone else, what is the point of this belief system if it is just like the world I live in? Remember, non-believers are watching everything we do, we are constantly on display. ‘...22not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.’ A believer should be doing their job to please God. So our mission is to do whatever we do heartily as to the Lord and not unto man. This will as a side effect cause the non-believer to see that we are different from everyone else, we do reflect the Lord in all we do and say.
4. Purpose: now what is our purpose? It is actually twofold. We do our best for the Lord because we will be rewarded. God has promised us the inheritance of the Kingdom.
24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. We are given citizenship in the Kingdom when we accept the Lord Jesus as our savior.
When we accept the gift that God sent us, His only Begotten Son, who died for our sins, died in our place, died to make us free from the bondage of Hell; it is then that we receive that inheritance. The second part has already been stated. It is our mission to lead others to Christ through our daily behavior in the work-a-day world that all of us are involved in, even those of us who are no longer working for pay. Ok, now what do I mean by that? All of us, in all of our daily activity, reflect the Lord. We need to guard against anything that would reflect in a negative way upon the Lord. Yes, we sin daily. That is why we should pray the Lord’s Prayer. It daily reminds us to ask for forgiveness as well as purpose, mission, vocation and even servanthood. Think about it. It all comes together in that simple prayer:
OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
In this coming week, let us go and do likewise.
IN Christ alone during Trinity
+Roy
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Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi
We are always grateful to get these wonderful sermons from Rev. Bryan, they keep us on our toes!
Sermon Text for Twelfth Sunday after Trinity:
If you are truly born again of the Spirit, you no doubt would like everyone around you to come to Christ. You would wish for them the joy and happiness which is in Jesus Christ that you have experienced as a believing Christian. And you will more readily accept their profession at face value that they are in fact a believing Christian. But alas, appearances can be deceiving as there are a fair number of people today who claim to know Jesus Christ yet they do not rejoice in the power of the Holy Ghost, neither do they contend for the faith. They live as if Christ had never come into the world, and bear no fruit in his service. They may call themselves Christians but they have not sought the Lord’s forgiveness from the heart.
In our gospel lesson (St. Mark 7:31-37) for today we are told of our Lord’s healing of a man who could not hear or speak. Jesus took him aside from the crowd, and after touching his ears and his tongue then said, Ephphatha or, Be opened and at that moment the man was made whole. Afterwards, both that man as well as those who had witnessed his healing proclaimed abroad the good things that our Lord had done. Still, neither this miracle nor any of the others which our Lord had wrought during his earthly ministry were well received by the religious authorities and in turn by the majority of the people of Judea. The fact is, those who thought themselves “religious” needed our Lord’s healing as much as the man who was deaf and dumb.
The Reverend Matthew Henry once observed that, “Blindness and deafness in spiritual things are worse in those that profess themselves to [be] God’s servants and messengers than in others.” Want proof? Take any national crisis and judge for yourselves. Any disaster— whether man-made or natural— reminds us of the tenuous nature of our existence. The ever-frequent conditions of “war, pestilence and famine” are brand-name crises that have in times past provided the impetus for temporary increases in church attendance by those who are more the children of the world than of God. These “Crisis Christians” will go through the motions of worship for awhile; but as time passes, and the memory of the crisis fades, they will simply fall back into the profane world from whence they came.
So what is it about “Crisis Christians” that would lead them away from the comfort of Christ and back into the world? To put a point on the matter: they have been deceived. The Devil took care of that chore before they ever set one foot inside a church. And although these folk saw a need to attend a church, they did not seek to truly change their lives for the better and remain as functioning members of the same. In sum, they are Christ-less Christians bearing all the outward marks of the faith but they remain empty vessels devoid of a saving faith in our Lord. Therefore, no temporary drift into God’s house will affect them unless they call out to Christ for help. “Crisis Christians” may appeal to God, but it will be more akin to that of Pharaoh in the time of the Exodus— who sought a means to stop the crisis at hand and not because he was convinced that he too should worship the one true and living God.
But we who have been born again of the Holy Spirit understand that our Lord came not to deceive us, neither did he come to waste and ruin our lives. No, he came to open the eyes of the blind, to loosen tongues which could not speak, to strengthen the limbs of the palsied and crippled, to open the ears of the deaf, and to change the consciousness of many from an earth-centered to a God-centered one. Our Lord came to seek and save the lost. He came that such as would hear the gospel of truth would by the power of the Holy Ghost be regenerated unto everlasting life.
St. Paul noted in his epistle to the Romans (10:17) that, Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. God gives his elect the ability to understand his word. If a person cannot hear it, if such a one cannot bear to listen to it, then such a one is in need of God’s Spirit if they desire to be saved. And so any person who finds themselves in such a condition ought to prayerfully petition God through Christ to give them ears to hear, and a heart to receive his word. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). God’s word will stand forever as a testimony to the truth , and it will be used to judge the wicked on the last day. That is why it is urgent that we reach out to those who continue to sit in darkness so that they will have that chance to hear and to turn unto the Lord.
Our Lord illustrated in our gospel lesson the literal truth of what the Holy Ghost has done for those who are born again of the Spirit. He has touched our ears that we might hear his word written. He has loosed our tongues that we might speak of his grace to others. He has extended to us the free gift of eternal life in his kingdom which should inspire us to witness to those around us who are as yet in an unregenerated state.
True and faithful Christians have the Great Commission to carry forth to a sin-darkened world— Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you... (St. Matthew 28:19-20). If we are born again of the Spirit, let us communicate by both word and deed that we are in fact Christians of the truest sort by faithfully keeping God’s word and commandment. If one has the ability to teach, let such a one teach. If a man has the ability to preach, let him pursue a path to ministry. If one has the gift of business and finances, let that person contribute to the furtherance of the gospel through giving and encouraging others to give to their churches as well. There are several avenues of church service such as serving on church boards and vestries, teaching Sunday school, being active in worship whether in the pew, or in the choir, or in the lay offices of the church. All are welcome to serve, but all ought to serve using those capacities which God has given within the rubrics of his word written.
May it please our gracious heavenly Father to touch each of you in such a way that you will have your spiritual gifts unveiled and your calling in his service made sure.
Let us pray,
Father, grant that we may endeavour to live as souls redeemed and loved of thee rejoicing in the power of the Spirit; and this we ask in the name of thine only begotten Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Have a blessed week!
Bryan+
We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian
Esther II...chapters 3-6
This is a message about doing the right thing even when it is hard. We are all challenged in this area. Sometimes we are quiet when we should speak, and other times we speak when we really should be quiet. Why do we not speak when something needs to be said?
Usually others are speaking, anyway I say often, and let them speak if they think they need to. That reminds me of the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz. "Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking" he said to Dorothy, because he didn't have a brain---only straw. Dorothy said, "You're right."
Two verses in ch 4 stand out in this section ch 3-5 or 6. In Ch 4, Esther is told by her uncle Mordecai of the decree 3:15 that the King had made. This was because Haman the King's prime official was angry with Mordecai, the Jew, because he would not bow down to him. Haman gave money to the king to have the Jewish people destroyed., ch 3: 11-13
Mordacai encourages Esther to go to the King about this. "The only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings." George Muller (a man of prayer and of the Word who did orphan work in Bristol, England)
A longer quote from CS Lewis helps us identify pain and its process in our situations:" CS Lewis Daily
If the first and lowest operation of pain shatters the illusion that all is well, the second shatters the illusion that what we have, whether good or bad in itself, is our own and enough for us. Everyone has noticed how hard it is to turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well with us. We ‘have all we want’ is a terrible saying when ‘all’ does not include God. We find God an interruption. As St Augustine says somewhere, ‘God wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are full—there’s nowhere for Him to put it.’
Or as a friend of mine said, ‘We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it’s there for emergencies but he hopes he’ll never have to use it.’ Now God, who has made us, knows what we are and that our happiness lies in Him. Yet we will not seek it in Him as long as he leaves us any other resort where it can even plausibly be looked for. While what we call ‘our own life’ remains agreeable we will not surrender it to Him. What then can God do in our interests but make ‘our own life’ less agreeable to us, and take away the plausible source of false happiness?" From The Problem of Pain
( or another shorter way to put it is, " I am from the government and I am here to help you.... &even church sometimes......We all make errors and should admit them when we do so. ")
The verses I wish to highlight in ch. 4 are verses 13-16”13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. 14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 15Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
To those two vs. I say, "WOW" She was in the right place at the right time. She did not act without praying and thinking. She had a plan with fortitude (strength) and resilience ("People with resilience do not experience less distress, grief, or anxiety than other people do. Instead, they use healthy coping skills to handle such difficulties in ways that foster strength and growth, often emerging stronger than they were before in verywellmind.com").
The Heidelberg Catechism is a close cousin to the 39 articles and it is simple but direct.
Q. What do you understand by the providence of God?
Heidelberg Catechism A. 27- " od's providence is his almighty and ever present power, whereby, as with his hand, he still upholds heaven and earth and all creatures,and so governs them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things, come to us not by chance but by his fatherly hand."
Esther’s plan included going to the King with her request for her people. But she did not bring the important issue right away. In chapter 5 she does go to the king. He listens to her request later. First she invites him and her arch-enemy Haman to a feast.
She had indeed come to the kingdom for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14)
I note many applications to us in these three chapters of the Book of Esther. We have mentioned several of them.
1. She listened to her godly advisors such as Mordecai.
2. She did not act in haste without planning and prayer.
3. She saw the hand of God in her life even though there were plotters and wrong-headed people against her.
Application- What are we planning? Is God prominent in our lives by our own seeking of His Will in our situations? Do we know that if we are His children by faith that He desires to lead us?
Just as Esther properly planned and prayed with listening to leaders and her people, so we too should plan and pray with God as our guide, our Father and our Judge. In the middle of stress we can practice peace through Christ and His Word. We can get support from others in doing His will. But we are the person who needs to make the decisions about our future and our plans. No one can make the decision for us. Crossroads mean challenges and even crisis times. But through them God is there for us as our friend, mentor and support.
Let us pray: O GOD, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly; Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou would have us to do,that the Spirit of Wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (From the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, a Prayer for Guidance.)
David D. Mc Millan , Pastor, & Chaplain (Major) US Army, ret.
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:
Philippine Island – Mud slide survivors
Colombia, SA – Earthquake survivors
Michele Gee- stage 3 cervical cancer
Darryl and Jennifer Baughn - assisting Darryl’s mother who is suffering with end of life issues
Arnold and Martha Robbins – Senior Health issues
Rhett Carter – head and neck issues – injuries work related – comfort for parents, John & Karen
Donny Clark – hospitalized for stroke – Anne – overseeing his care
Kathy – new tests regarding her eye and the ability to keep one or both – severe anxiety
Baby Baelin – Baelin is still in NICU with hopes of being stepped down this week to less intensive
Donny – hospitalized due to multiple strokes and inability to speak, pray for David and Anne, family who are helping him in recovery
Ben Hancock – treatment for colon cancer
Rev. Geordie: needs prayer for medical issues
Debbie Grimes: colon cancer – surgery
Man, who is a friend of many – Brain Cancer
Bobby Effinger – recovery from heart surgery and ongoing heart issues
Joseph Broddie – recurring throat cancer
David Williams – serious cardiac issues – pray for David and wife Sherie for coping with changes
Colby Landry – cancer. Please pray for his wife, Leah and their family at this time of trial.
Persecuted Christians – subject to persecution and imprisonment for their faith.
Bobby Bryan – suffering with cancer and cardiac issues.
For an increase in the true faith in Jesus Christ here and across the globe.
USA – Leaders, citizens, military, first responders – President Trump & all Cabinet Members Safety
Ophelia – crippling arthritis pain
Dave – COPD – new diagnosis of Diabetes type 2 – Gastritis episode
Mary Lou – Praise the Lord, she is moved in and unpacking – keep praying for strength
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
Keep Praying for the following:
Shamu-health issues, Jan Jessup-neuro dementia, AOC USA, AOC Missions, Harper-IBS,
Jim Sevier- God’s
Peace, Linda –
fall this week multiple buises, Alicia-caregiver. Sophie,
Colin and Lori Beall –
cancer, Malou –
cancer, Janice, Katie, Bobby, Myra Cox, Faye Miller, Diane, Alice, Yves Mera, Lucile, Ryan, Steven, Rency, David, Brannon, Charlie, Dennis, Beverly and Howard, Betty, Deborah
Points to Ponder:
The devil my prevail in deceiving
poor souls drawn in by the hopes of deliverance from their oppressions. Neither
miracles nor multitudes are certain signs of a true church.
The Rev. Matthew Henry
Let us ever beware of any doctrine
which interferes with the priesthood of Christ. Any system of religion which
teaches that we need other mediators besides Jesus, other priests beside Jesus,
other intercessors beside Jesus— is unscriptural and dangerous to men’s souls.
The Most Rev. J. C. Ryle – Knots Untied pg. 265
The cardinal error against which the gospel
of Christ has to contend is the effect of the tendency of the human heart to
rely on salvation by works.
The Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon
Just as Esther properly planned and prayed with
listening to leaders and her people, so we too should plan and pray with God as
our guide, our Father and our Judge. In the middle of stress we can
practice peace through Christ and His Word. We can get support from
others in doing His will. But we are the person who needs to make the
decisions about our future and our plans. No one can make the decision for
us. Crossroads mean challenges and even crisis times. But through them God
is there for us as our friend, mentor and support.
The Rev. David McMillan, Esther Part 2
When we accept the gift that God sent us, His only
Begotten Son, who died for our sins, died in our place, died to make us free
from the bondage of Hell; it is then that we receive that inheritance. The
second part has already been stated. It is our mission to lead others to Christ
through our daily behavior in the work-a-day world that all of us are involved
in, even those of us who are no longer working for pay. Ok, now what do I
mean by that? All of us, in all of our daily activity, reflect the Lord.
We need to guard against anything that would reflect in a negative way upon the
Lord. Yes, we sin daily. That is why we should pray the Lord’s Prayer. It
daily reminds us to ask for forgiveness as well as purpose, mission, vocation
and even servanthood. Think about it. It all comes together in that
simple prayer:
Bishop Roy Morales-Kuhn, 12th Sunday after Trinity
True and faithful Christians have the
Great Commission to carry forth to a sin-darkened world— Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you... (St. Matthew 28:19-20). If we are born again of the
Spirit, let us communicate by both word and deed that we are in fact Christians
of the truest sort by faithfully keeping God’s word and commandment. If one has
the ability to teach, let such a one teach. If a man has the ability to preach,
let him pursue a path to ministry. If one has the gift of business and
finances, let that person contribute to the furtherance of the gospel through giving
and encouraging others to give to their churches as well. There are several avenues
of church service such as serving on church boards and vestries, teaching Sunday
school, being active in worship whether in the pew, or in the choir, or in the
lay offices of the church. All are welcome to serve, but all ought to serve
using those capacities which God has given within the rubrics of his word
written.
The Rev. Bryan Dabney, 12th Sunday after Trinity 2026
The most important and critical question any of us can ask ourselves is, ‘Are we covered by the blood of Jesus? Are our doorposts and lintels stained with his redeeming blood?
Bishop Jerry Ogles
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