Reflections: The Foundation, Purpose, and Ministry of the Church

Given that we are heading into “Ordinary Time,” we will use the next few weeks of this newsletter to talk a little bit about the Church and our place in it.

The Church is not another social club, political organization, or affinity-based organization. Rather, the Church is a divinely instituted and sustained organism, the Body of Christ which is made up of “the blessed company of all faithful people” (BCP 83). The Church was founded by Jesus. Some people say the Church was brought into existence on Pentecost (Acts 2) or born from the blood and water that poured from Jesus’ side on the Cross (John 19:34). Chronologically, either of these options may be true; however, there is a sense in which, just as Jesus has always existed and presents the offering of himself to the Father outside of time, we may say that the Church has always existed. The Church, as the Body of Christ, brings the beautiful salve of Christ’s Sacrifice to all. Just as the Good Samaritan brought the beaten and bruised man to an inn to be healed, so our Lord brings us to the Church that we might be healed from the injuries of sin by his saving grace, imparted to us via the proclamation of the Gospel and administration of the Sacraments.

It is a good thing that God established the Church and not humans. Human institutions come and go; but, the divine origin of the Church guarantees that “that gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18). This doesn’t stop Satan from trying—divisions and schisms, abuse, and corruption are present in the Church in ways that distract us from our essential mission and identity. The Church is a divine institution inhabited by sinful, messy humans. No matter what, however, we can rest in the reality that the Church is a Kingdom ruled ultimately by Christ. In spite of our “unhappy divisions” (see “For the Unity of God’s People,” BCP 37-38), we can trust that God will be faithful to his Church.

Anglican priest and theologian Martin Thornton once described the world as a beautiful garden planted for the glory of God and watered by God’s grace. Unfortunately, because of sin, the garden couldn’t be watered properly, being subjected to floods and droughts. The Incarnation, and by extension, the Church, act as a hose to irrigate the garden, funneling grace into a world that desperately needs it. The Church is a Remnant of faithful people that vicariously offers prayer for the world.

According to Anglican theologian Vernon Staley, the purpose of the Church is threefold: (1) it is the sphere of grace; (2) it is the home of truth; and (3) it is the ark of safety.

The Church is the sphere of grace because it is the place where the Gospel is proclaimed and the sacraments duly administered. These are necessary because without them, we cannot know, love, or serve the Lord. Grace elevates us out of a “state of nature” and into a “state of grace.” Jesus tells us that, “I am the vine, ye are the branches” (John 15:5). The branches cannot live unless they’re connected to a vine that pumps life into them. This is the relationship the Church has with our Lord: without him, “there is no health in us” (BCP 6). To be a Christian is to be a member of the Church and to be a part of the Church is to be unified to Our Lord.

The Church is the home of truth because it is where we find a sure and trustworthy testimony to the self-disclosure of God. The Church perpetually testifies to God as revealed in Christ because it is led by the Holy Spirit (cf. John 16:13). There are multiple ways the truth is preserved and passed on. The first is through the canonical Scriptures. The Church not only canonized and preserved these texts, but also interprets them. Another way the Church preserves truth is through the rulings of the Seven Ecumenical Councils of the undivided Church and the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds. In these decisions, the Church offers us a way of talking about God within the bounds of orthodoxy which is not at all a purely academic exercise, but rather one that aids us in becoming a people of prayer.

Finally, the Church is the ark of safety because it is how we have assurance that we are recipients of God’s grace. While we leave those outside the Church to the mercy of God through our prayers for them, we can rest in the knowledge that grace is imparted to us in the Sacraments and that truth is dispensed in the teachings of the Church. We are never safer than when we are in the Church.

The Collect for the Church (BCP 37):
O Gracious Father, we humbly beseech thee for thy holy Catholic Church; that thou wouldest be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of him who died and rose again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Summer Retreat: "Forgive Us Our Trespasses as We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us: Forgiveness and the Rhythm of the Christian Life"

Forgiveness is what we are called to do as Christians. But what does it really mean for us to forgive? How do we do it? Is it a decision, process, or something else? Join us on Saturday, June 25th for a half-day retreat as we discuss these questions and more. The retreat will begin at 8:30am with refreshments following. There will be three 45-minute sessions and the day will end with Mass at noon.

Schedule:

• 8:30a: Morning Prayer and Refreshments

• 9a: Session 1

• 10a: Session 2

• 11a: Session 3

• 12p: Mass

Reflections: The Athanasian Creed

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, a day on which we reflect upon the mystery at the heart of our faith: that we worship one God in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity. If you think about the Trinity too long, odds are one of two things will happen: your head will start to hurt and/or you might accidentally lapse into some form of heresy. It is for this reason that the Church gives us Creeds which provide us language to articulate these doctrines.

The Trinity is hinted at in the Apostles’ Creed. We profess that we believe in “God the Father almighty,” “Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,” and, “the Holy Spirit.” Yet, the Apostles’ Creed doesn’t flesh out the implications of the Trinity specifically. It remains broad and basic.

The Nicene Creed is more elaborate. The same basic relationship is posited between the Father and the Son as what the Apostles’ Creed affirms, but it emphasizes their “consubstantiality” by describing Jesus as “God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God; Begotten, not made; Being of one substance with the Father.” It also elaborates on the Holy Ghost as a member of the Godhead, affirming that he is “The Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified.” Still, questions can be raised about the relationships between the various persons of the Trinity.

It is here that the Athanasian Creed (Quicunque Vult) is helpful. Unfortunately, the Athanasian Creed is omitted from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer most likely because of the strong language that anathematizes divergence from the Creed, but it was present in the earlier British versions of the Book of Common Prayer and was even recited at the Daily Offices. That said, it is affirmed as authoritative for the Anglican Province of America via the Affirmation of St. Louis and in other canonically-permitted liturgical sources. It has two major sections. The first is about the Trinity and the second is about Christ. It attempts to walk a careful balance that affirms the equality of the Trinity to avoid the implication that some members of the Trinity are “more” or “less” God than the others while also stressing the unity of the Godhead to prevent the misconception that Christians actually worship three different gods.

As we approach Trinity Sunday, it is always helpful to read the Athanasian Creed to remind ourselves of what we believe:

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith unless every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the catholic religion; to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess; that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance of the Father; begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the Substance of his Mother, born in the world. Perfect God; and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father as touching his Manhood. Who although he is God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ. One; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by assumption of the Manhood into God. One altogether; not by confusion of Substance [Essence]; but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man; so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell; rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies; And shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.

The Presiding Bishop's Teaching on Liturgy at the APA Spring Retreat 2022 - Session 1

You can find the text of his teaching here.

REMINDER: Annual Meeting: April 24, 2022

Hello Everyone,

Our annual Parish meeting will be April 24 immediately following the 10:00 am service. There will only be one service that Sunday.

In addition to the regular Rector, financial and committee reports, we will be voting on a proposed By-Law change. Please review the attached document which includes the current By-Law, the proposed change, and the reasons the Vestry is proposing this change. If you have any questions or concerns about the proposed change, please speak to Fr. Wes, Cathy Gates or any other Vestry member. It is important for everyone to attend the meeting to vote on the proposed change.

The meeting will be followed by one of our scrumptious pot lucks! Be sure to stay for the good food and fellowship. A sign-up sheet is on the sign-up board outside the nursery. Let us know what you're bringing and how many people are coming with you.

Cathy Gates
Senior Warden

h) 410-672-7597
c) 443-928-2980

The Presiding Bishop’s Easter Message 2022

Below is Bishop Chandler Holder Jones’ Easter Message:

2022 Lenten Appeal

You can find the original 2022 Lenten Appeal here.

From the Presiding Bishop:

Having dedicated our Lenten Appeal efforts on our domestic missions during these past several years we are once again shifting our focus to our foreign missions and their needs.

Our effort this year will be to collect funds for the construction of churches in both the Philippines and Haiti. Both countries have an overarching Roman Catholic ethos and the presence of a permanent building is viewed as a sign of the seriousness of the Church’s efforts in those parts. While we have managed in the past holding services under a large mango tree in the Philippines or in the courtyard of the school or converted classrooms in Haiti, the churches in both of these places now have land, both donated and purchased, on which proper churches can be built.

There are currently two churches that have been completed and a third one under construction in the Philippines and the potential for still three more, and there are two properties that we currently own in Haiti. The goal for this year’s Lenten Appeal is to raise sufficient funds to complete the construction of five new churches (three in the Philippines and two in Haiti). Our Goal as in previous years is $100,000, which will be divided proportionally between the two places. Our churches, unlike the Roman Catholic placement of churches, will be in the local communities where the people live and will not require them to travel great distances on Sundays in order to participate in weekly worship services. The presence of these churches will change the lives of many in these communities and provide tremendous opportunities for evangelism and the growth of God’s kingdom. At least one of the churches in the Philippines will be constructed in a community of one of the unreached indigenous groups on the island of Mindoro.

I am asking each individual within our churches to make a Lenten offering of $1.50 per day for the 40 days of Lent (a total of $60 per person), or more as our Lord leads you. We will need one hundred percent participation in order to achieve this goal. Please make this a family project for Lent. Your generous gifts will enable God’s kingdom to grow and expand in both these countries and help to provide eternal hope to people who are in extreme poverty and hardship.

Please pray every day during Lent that God will use our offering to show His great mercy on the people of the Philippines and Haiti.

Checks should be made payable to your local church with a notation in the memo field “APA Lenten Appeal 2022.” I ask each church treasurer to combine the monies and send one church check to the APA Treasurer (Mr. Dan Wilder, Wilder Accounting, 3208 W State Rd 426, Ste 2060, Oviedo, FL 32765) with the designation “APA Lenten Appeal 2022.”

Please make your Lenten Offering by April 24 if possible.

In Christ,
The Most Rev. Chandler Holder Jones, SSC, Presiding Bishop

Ukrainian Relief with the Polish National Catholic Church

Dearly beloved in Christ,

We have before us this Lent a tremendous opportunity through which to exercise the Christian works of mercy. Our brethren in the Polish National Catholic Church in Poland are going to extraordinary lengths to bring the love of God to refugees from Ukraine who are escaping the Russian invasion.

The Polish National Catholics are providing food and shelter, receiving refugees into their own homes, offering medical care and services, and more, all of which activity is being funded from their own parishes. The PNCC is soliciting funds from many sources in order to assist in this mission.

We orthodox Anglicans, engaged as we are in dialogue with the PNCC, are especially encouraged to contribute directly to the effort.

Donations may be sent directly the Office of the Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church, 1006 Pittston Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania 18505-4109.

Please make cheques payable to The Polish National Catholic Church, with the word 'Ukraine' in the memo line.

The Polish parishes require more financial support so as to provide some small measure of comfort and dignity to the suffering people making their escape to safety. We are now presented with the privilege of doing our part and practicing our Lenten discipline of almsgiving by sharing in this relief work.

Let us pray fervently for the peace of Ukraine and for the welfare, preservation, and freedom of the Ukrainian people. God bless you!

In Our Blessed Lord,

+Chad

March Old Time Bible Hour Reading: St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Sermons on Song of Songs

The next meeting of the Old Time Bible Hour is March 22 at 7pm. It will be preceded by Evening Prayer in the Chapel at 6:30.

The Old Time Bible Hour is a study that meets once a month and looks at how to read Scripture through the lens of Christians that have gone before us.

This month, we will be reading a selection of St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s Sermon’s on Song of Songs. You can download them below.

Lenten Preparation Retreat: "Turn Thou Us, O Good Lord, and So Shall We be Turned: Fasting, Examen, and Confession"

On Saturday, February 26th at 9am, we will gather for a half-day retreat to help us better prepare for Lent! The retreat will focus on three important Lenten disciplines: fasting, self-examination, and confession. Fasting is when we eat less in order to master our passions and desires. Self-examination is reflecting on our conduct in light of God’s commands and holiness. Confession is a biblical practice that we do after self-reflection.

Here is the schedule for the day:

9:00-9:15 Morning Prayer
9:15-9:30 Refreshments
9:30-10:15 Session 1
10:15-10:20 Break
10:20-11 Session 2
11:00-11:05 Break
11:05-11:45 Session 3
12 Mass