The Third Sunday After the Epiphany

January 27, 2008

Lessons

Amos 3:1-8
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Matthew 4:12-23
Psalm 139:1-17 or 139:1-11

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Announcements

Sunday, January 27th – Morning Prayer at 9:00AM
Sunday School and child care are provided during the service.
Welcome to Mr Noah Lawson, Lay Reader from Christ Church, Lemoore!

Fr Van, Jacqui & Ian will be on vacation this weekend.
Shrove Tuesday is February 5th
Ash Wednesday is February 6th

Lessons for Sunday February 3, 2008
The Last Sunday After the Epiphany
Exodus 24:12(13-14)15-18
Philippians 3:7-14
Matthew 17:1-9
Psalm 99

GAFCON 2008

Global Anglican Future Conference 2008

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

2008 is a big year for the worldwide Anglican Communion. From July 16 to August 3, more than 880 Bishops will gather in London for the Fourteenth Lambeth Conference. The Lambeth Conference was first held in 1867, as a means of maintaining unity across the global Anglican communion, which by this time was no longer constitutionally under the authority of the Archbishop and Crown. It has become an important venue for discussing controversial matters that require some form of judgment on the part of the church. Obviously, then, deliberations over the ordination of homosexual priests and blessing of same-sex unions will be at the top of the list for debate at this year's conference.

The conference ruled in 1998 that "homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture", but called for a "listening process", implying that further judgment would be required after this process is complete. Since 1998, those resolutions have been flouted by a number of clergy - not only in the USA, but also in the UK, Canada, and even New Zealand. This has led to a Bishop Marty Minns, being ordained by Nigerian primate Peter Akinola to serve Anglicans in the USA. It would seem that the communion is crying out for a verdict, and for greater authority on the matter. However there has been no indication from Archbishop Rowan Williams that this is going to happen, but rather he talks about the listening process as something that has only just begun, and something to be "presented and reflected upon" - not something to make a judgment on, and not something that requires a disciplinary response. Instead, the Archbishop says, "the controversies of recent years have spotlighted the difficulties we have as a Communion of making decisions in a corporate way", and that the conference needs to talk about addressing this issue in a constitutional way.

This lack of commitment to defining Christian sexuality, and requiring Anglican ministers to commit to that definition, is frustrating orthodox and evangelical Anglicans across the communion. Last month seven archbishops, including five primates, and six other bishops, met in Nairobi to discuss preparation for the 2008 Lambeth Conference. With an additional primate being represented by a bishop, and two English bishops being consulted by telephone, these leaders are said to represent over 30 million of the 55 million active Anglicans in the world.

On Christmas Eve a joint statement was issued inviting senior clergy and laity from every province of the Anglican Communion to attend the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) 2008, from June 15-22, in Jerusalem. The five primates issuing the invitation are Peter Akinola (Nigeria), Henry Orombi (Uganda), Emmanuel Kolini (Rwanda), Benjamin Nzimbi (Kenya) and Donald Mtetemela (Tanzania). The two additional archbishops are Peter Jensen (Sydney) and Nicholas Okoh (Nigeria), and the eight other bishops are Don Harvey (Canada), Bill Atwood (Kenya) representing Primate Greg Venables (Southern Cone), Bob Duncan (Anglican Communion Network), Martyn Minns (Convocation of Anglicans in North America), Dr Vinay Samuel (India and England), Dr Chris Sugden (England), Michael Nazir-Ali (Rochester, England) and Wallace Benn (Lewes, England).


The invitation reads;

Southern Cone Primate Gregory Venables said, “While there are many calls for shared mission, it clearly must rise from common shared faith. Our pastoral responsibility to the people that we lead is now to provide the opportunity to come together around the central and unchanging tenets of the central and unchanging historic Anglican faith. Rather than being subject to the continued chaos and compromise that have dramatically impeded Anglican mission, GAFCON will seek to clarify God’s call at this time and build a network of cooperation for Global mission.”

The gathering set in motion a Global Anglican Future Conference: A Gospel of Power and Transformation. The vision, according to Archbishop Nzimbi is to inform and inspire invited leaders "to seek transformation in our own lives and help impact communities and societies through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Bishops and their wives, clergy and laity, including the next generation of young leaders will attend GAFCON. The GAFCON website is www.gafcon.org.

Canon Chris Sugden added: "While this conference is not a specific challenge to the Lambeth Conference, it will provide opportunities for fellowship and care for those who have decided not to attend Lambeth. There was no other place to meet at this critical time for the future of the Church than in the Holy Land.”

Posted by A.J. Chesswas on "Put up thy Sword!

http://matthew5-9.blogspot.com/2008/01/global-anglican-future-conference-2008.html

California Catholic Daily

This printable article is taken from www.calcatholic.com

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Published: January 23, 2008

Recant and steer off course

Episcopal Church moves to discipline seceding California bishop

Episcopal Church leaders have taken disciplinary action against Bishop John-David Schofield, the California bishop whose diocese voted last month to split with the U.S. branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Both lay representatives and clergy of the San Joaquin diocese decided to cease affiliation with the U.S. church and join a South American Anglican jurisdiction on account of the Episcopal Church’s toleration and promotion of homosexuality and other issues which, says the California diocese, depart from biblical orthodoxy.

In response to December’s vote, Episcopal presiding bishop, Katharine Jefferts-Schori said, “the Episcopal Church will continue in the Diocese of San Joaquin, albeit with new leadership.” Earlier in the month, before the vote, she wrote Bishop Schofield that a split with the Episcopal Church "would implicitly reject the Church's property and other canons."

On Jan. 11, Jefferts-Schori placed an “inhibition” on Schofield, meaning he may not perform religious rites, confirm, or give sermons until Episcopal Church leaders meet on March 13 to decide what do about him, the Rev. Canon Charles Robertson, canon to Jefferts-Schori, told Associated Press. Schofield, said Robertson, "was aware of the consequences of his action, warned repeatedly, and there comes a time when it is important for the church to hold its own leadership accountable. This allows him time to recant and to steer off this course."

Schofield, however, does not seem to see a need for recantation. Reuters reported Jan. 16 that Schofield and his associates have not ceased their ecclesial activities. A Jan. 14 posting on the diocesan web site states that the Episcopal Church’s claims to “oversight and jurisdiction” over the San Joaquin diocese “are not correct.”

“The fact is that neither the Diocese nor Bishop John-David Schofield are part of The Episcopal Church,” said the posting. “The Bishop is a member of the House of Bishops of the Southern Cone as of December 8th, 2007. The Diocese is a part of the Southern Cone.” The posting included a statement from the Southern Cone’s archbishop, Gregory Venables: "As of December the 8th, 2007 Bishop John-David Schofield is not under the authority or jurisdiction of The Episcopal Church or the Presiding Bishop.”

“The Episcopal Church's assertion that Bishop Schofield has abandoned the communion of this Church is an admission that The Episcopal Church rejects the historical Anglican faith,” said the diocese’s posting. “The Episcopal Church's own identity is dependent upon its relationship with the whole Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church should consider whether it is imperiling that relationship by taking such punitive actions.”

On Jan. 2, 34 active and retired Anglican bishops from around the world wrote to Schofield “to salute you on the courageous decision of the Diocesan Convention of San Joaquin to take leave of The Episcopal Church and to align with the Province of the Southern Cone.” Among the signers was Robert Duncan, Episcopal bishop of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, whose diocese last year took an initial vote to separate from the Episcopal Church and join a foreign jurisdiction. Jefferts-Schori has threatened Duncan with an inhibition, according to Reuters.

© California Catholic Daily 2008. All Rights Reserved.

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Article URL: http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=5ceb0491-7061-4b60-afde-f47cd858a33c

The 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany

Sunday, January 20, 2008
Lessons

Isaiah 49:1-7
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-41
Psalm 40:1-10

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Announcements

Sunday, January 20, 2008 – Holy Eucharist II at 9:00AM
Sunday School & child care are provided during the sermon

The Rt Rev John-David Schofield will be preaching and visiting with us.

Shower for Catherine & baby Juan Carlos tomorrow (1/21) evening at 7PM in the Parish Hall.
Fr Van, Jacqui & Ian will be on vacation next weekend.
Next Sunday, Mr Noah Lawson will lead Morning Prayer

Next Sunday’s lessons: 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany
Amos 3:1-8
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Matthew 4:12-23
Psalm 139:1-11

The First Sunday after the Epiphany

The Baptism of Our Lord
January 13, 2008

Isaiah 42:1-9
Acts 10:34-38
Matthew 3:13-17
Psalm 89:1-29 or 89:20-29

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Epiphany

The Manifestation of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the Gentiles
January 6, 2008

Isaiah 60:1-6,9
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
Psalm 72 or 72:1-2,10-17

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Announcements

Annual Meeting, Part two is this Sunday. We will elect two new members to the Bishop's Committee and two delegates and two alternates to the 2008 convention/s

You are not alone

31 bishops stand with Bishop Schofield and Diocese of San Joaquin

Dear Bishop John-David,

We, Episcopal colleagues from across the Anglican Communion and across the world, write to salute you on the courageous decision of the Diocesan Convention of San Joaquin to take leave of The Episcopal Church and to align with the Province of the Southern Cone. We know that decision was to a large extent the result of your tenacity and faithful leadership, and for that we give thanks to God. It has been said that you are isolated and alone. We want you and the world to know that in this decision for the faith once delivered to the saints, we stand with you and beside you. May Christ abundantly bless you and your diocese with all the gifts of the Spirit and with joy in believing.

Yours in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Jack L. Iker, Bishop of Fort Worth

and:

The Most Rev. Peter Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney
The Rt. Rev. Matthias Medadues-Badohu, Bishop of Ho
The Rt. Rev. Michael Nazir-Ali, Bishop of Rochester
The Rt. Rev. Gerard Mpango, Bishop of Western Tanganyika
The Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh
The Rt. Rev. Ross Davies, Bishop of The Murray
The Rt. Rev. Keith L Ackerman, Bishop of Quincy
The Rt. Rev. Peter Beckwith, Bishop of Springfield
The Rt. Rev. A. Ewin Ratteray, Bishop of Bermuda
The Rt. Rev. Michael Hough, Bishop of Ballarat
The Rt. Rev. John Broadhurst, Bishop of Fulham
The Rt. Rev. Martyn Jarrett, Bishop of Beverley
The Rt. Rev. John Goddard, Bishop of Burnley
The Rt. Rev. Keith Newton, Bishop of Richborough
The Rt. Rev. Robert Forsyth, Bishop of South Sydney
The Rt. Rev. Andrew Burnham, Bishop of Ebbsfleet
The Rt. Rev. Lindsay Urwin, Bishop of Horsham
The Rt. Rev. Wallace Benn, Bishop of Lewes
The Rt. Rev. Henry Scriven, Assistant Bishop, Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Rt. Rev. Bill Atwood, Province of Kenya
The Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns, Convocation of Anglicans in North America
The Rt. Rev. David Anderson, Convocation of Anglicans in North America
The Rt. Rev. John Gaisford, lately Bishop of Beverley
The Rt. Rev. Edward MacBurney, lately Bishop of Quincy
The Rt. Rev. Roger Jupp, lately Bishop of Popondota
The Rt. Rev. David Silk, lately Bishop of Ballarat
The Rt. Rev. Nöel Jones, lately Bishop of Sodor and Man
The Rt. Rev. Edwin Barnes, lately Bishop of Richborough
The Rt. Rev. William Wantland, lately Bishop of Eau Claire
The Rt. Rev. Donald Parsons, lately Bishop of Quincy