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By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, March 7, 2010 8:00 am

Waste Removal

As a boy I was responsible for removing solid waste from the home.  I am still the “trash guy” in our home.  Nearly every day I “kick it to the curb”.  There is something liberating about taking out the rubbish.

Janet and I were once shopping for a home to buy.  One house we looked at had a terrible odor about it.  When I opened the door to the cellar I was confronted by a large pile of trash nearly one story high.  Someone had simply dumped the trash down the stairs.  Over time, a disgusting and unhealthy condition arose.

Confessing your sins to God is like taking out the trash.  It is for your own good.  King David did some bad things and he held back his sins from God.  He writes in Psalm 32:3, “When I kept silent my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.”  It was as though David was rotting on the inside.  He says he got relief as he turned to God:  “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’ and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”  [Psalm 32:5]

Don’t forget to take out the trash!

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

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By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, February 28, 2010 8:00 am

Scrubbing

Although my mother was domestically challenged, she was very clean and saw to it that things were always in order and well-kept.  I must have been about eleven or twelve years old when I was thoroughly instructed in the way to scrub and clean a bathroom and then I was turned loose.  I received 50 cents for a full bath and 25 cents for a half-bath.  It was a good wage and I earned it by doing good work.

There is something cathartic about cleaning a bathroom.  The same can be said about the way God gives us His Spirit to scrub and clean our lives.  He does His part and we do ours by confessing our sins to God and, at times, to one another.

The Scriptures say. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  [I John 1:9]

Be sure to take advantage of God’s offer to become clean!

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

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By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, February 21, 2010 8:49 am

St. Paul’s!

How do you pray for St. Paul’s?

A great way to reflect on the answer to this question is to read the prayers of St. Paul in his epistles.  These prayers are ancient, yet they are so alive and applicable to the church of the 21^st century.

You could even say that Paul is praying them today in the communion of saints.  We will be embarking today on a series of sermons Sunday mornings through Easter. 

Here are the texts:

·         February 21          Ephesians 1:15-23

·         February 28          I Thessalonians 1:2-3; 2:13; 5:23

·         March 7                 Ephesians 3:14-21

·         March 14               Romans 15:5-6, 13

·         March 21               Philippians 1:3-11

·         March 28               Philemon 4-6

·         April 4                   Colossians 1:3-14

Look up these passages.  Study them and join in.  Let’s pray these prayers with St. Paul for St. Paul’s.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. [Ephesians 6:18]”

I pray that your Lenten season is blessed,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

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By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, February 14, 2010 8:44 am

The Days are Lengthening

The days are lengthening – that is what Lent literally means.  As daylight increases, we not only anticipate the coming of Spring, but the season of the church year when we prepare for Holy Week and Earth.

What will you be doing to prepare yourself this year?  What will you give, and what will you take on, as part of the self-denial long associated with the season of Lent and with the Christian life?

I am asking that we all join together as a parish community to pray for our neighbors as we use daily the format in the booklet “Seek God for the City”.  It is vital that we pray for and go into the world to share Jesus.  Our days are not only lengthening they are being filled fuller!

With love in Christ,  

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

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By Fr. Daniel Morgan, February 7, 2010 8:00 am

Super Bowl Sunday

Don’t you just love a good contest? Football is a great example of the challenges, agony and effort it takes to win in battle. You never see a team show up on game day and say…“You know what?…. I think we’ve done enough…. We’ve made it through the playoffs, we’ve proven that we are a top ranking team and that’s good enough…Let’s just throw the game because we don’t have anything to prove.” That’s just crazy. No one in their right mind would think that it’s okay to give up even if the outcome is a loss. The Colts and the Saints will not be denied the chance to show the world what they are made of. We will cheer with the team of our choice in their advances… we will cringe at the flying tackles and ‘clothes-line’ plays… we will marvel at the half time show…. And as we watch this sport, we honor the effort and trial of the competition.

Just like any good athlete we have the pursuit of victory as the core of our being. God’s call to us is not to “kill em’ with kindness” and let the world use us as their doormat, but to love, to encourage others so that they may find the same transformation in Jesus Christ that you have. WE DON’T GIVE UP because we have nothing to lose. Paul says: ‘to live is Christ and to die is gain’ (Philipians 1:21). So in Christ, for us ‘Life is Good’ and ‘Death is Better’ because we are free.

Hebrews 12:1 says: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” This is our call to join in the life that God has called us. With him nothing can ‘hinder’ or ‘entangle’ us. Because of His sacrifice we can laugh, love, work, play, dance, sing, serve and sacrifice all to His honor and glory.

So let’s keep pressing on, pressing in and using the gifts we have been given, following the course that God has ‘marked out’ for us, and doing it with everything we’ve got! Find out what’s been marked out for you and GO FOR IT!!!

Blessings,

Dan

Fr. Dan Morgan

Associate Rector

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By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, January 31, 2010 8:00 am

The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul

Oh God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world:  Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching;  through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

It is striking to think that this prayer has been prayed in Anglican churches throughout the world this week.  I am especially delighted with the request “Grant we pray that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching.”

The whole Anglican Communion – 70+ million strong – prays with appreciation for St. Paul’s conversion and seeks to obey his teaching.  Well…

Let’s make it a point to do so here.  We are St. Paul’s Church.  We were named after the Blessed Apostle.  Whatever anybody else says or does is what they say and do.  They and we are accountable to God.

I just know we are seeking to obey St. Paul’s teaching and all the teaching of the Bible.  We love God and we believe those who love God are called to obey Him.  Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.”  John 14:23

Your brother in Christ

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

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By Phyllis, January 24, 2010 11:26 pm

Learn Servant-hood

Every week we pray, “Father…grant that every member of the church may truly and humbly serve You.”

Let’s eliminate “Volunteers” in the church.  Let’s do away with volunteerism.  We are more than that secular term.  (The word “volunteer” is in the Bible, but it’s a military term for those who willingly go into battle.)

There are many figures which describe our relationship with the Lord Jesus:  e.g., we are members of the body of Christ;  we are the Bride of Christ;  we are His brothers and sisters;  we are servants of the Most High God!  We are God’s workers and as Dan Mohler recently told us, we are the roster of God.

Colossians 3 has a word to say to household servants, but we can apply it to servants in the house of God as well:  Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your real reward.  You are actually serving the Lord Christ.  Colossians 3:23,24

Anything we do in the church is ministry and service to Him and to each other.  Those who work the soundboard enhance our worship.  Those who usher make possible orderly worship.  Those who serve in the nursery or Sunday School are “training up a child in the way he should go”.  Those who offer hospitality enable “the fellowship of believers”.  Name any task in the church and it will be an expression of the heart of the Lord for the people of God, as you use your gifts and faculties in service to Him.

All of these things, done for love of God and for each other, bless Him and witness to the watching world, “See how the Christians love one another.”

So let’s replace “Volunteers” with “Servants” or “Workers”.

On the roster,

Roberta

The Rev. Roberta Schneider, DCN

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By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, January 17, 2010 9:00 am

2010:  The Year of Harvest Joy

Joy is something greater than happiness.  It covers a whole lot of emotions since joy is really a state of being.  I think of what the author of Hebrews wrote about our Lord Jesus.  He says we are to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.    Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:2-3.

We are told that Jesus suffered as he kept before himself the joy without growing weary.  And so should we do too.  The New Century Version says, “Think about Jesus’ example.  He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him.  So do not get tired and stop trying.”  Eugene Peterson puts it this way, “Keep your eyes on Jesus who both began and finished this race we’re in.  Study how he did it.  Because he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything along the way:  cross, shame, whatever.”

St. Paul’s, I see a harvest coming and it can be taken at least two ways.   First, there is coming the fruit of the Spirit which includes joy.  You are bearing forth a new level of joy as you follow Christ.  This fruit of joy is very appealing to others.  They are going to want some!  Second, the fruit of this harvest is the new wave of believers who will enter the Kingdom of God this year.  They will be filled with joy, as will be heaven and earth because we know that the Lord Jesus is joyful as are His angels.  “There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repeats.”  Luke 15:10

Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus!

Your brother in Christ

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

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By Fr. Daniel Morgan, January 10, 2010 11:07 am

What’s in Your Tank?

I was just thinking about the correlation between Power and Propulsion.  Power is stationary unless it has a mechanism to transmit that power into motion.  Without movement, it is simply wasted energy.  

We see examples of this in static government or religious organizations that are impotent to move or create or grow because they have failed to transmit power into propulsion.  Without life and growth, I submit that such power eventually burns out because the emotional, financial, and creative TANK empties.

What fills your tank these days?  Have you begun a study of God’s word that causes you to grow?   Have you invited the Holy Spirit in to transmit that power into action: into love, service, sacrifice, giving, and many other "Fruit-Bearing" Spiritual gift characteristics?  Or are you like many; coming to church on Sunday for that one meal that you hope will somehow feed you throughout the whole week? I don’t think that pattern of living makes for a healthy life.  You see, we EAT so that we can PRODUCE.  We PRODUCE so that we can PROVIDE.  We PROVIDE  so that we can EAT.   As simplistic an example as this is, we must fill our tanks so we can live, and out of that life we are made full again! It is cyclical.  God will fill us if we seek him and TRANSMIT that energy into ACTION!  The joy of serving Him and reaping the harvest of His Spirit will top off our tanks and leave us energized for more.

I suggest a New Year’s discipline: Get into God’s Word.  Every day read a Psalm; a section of a Gospel; and  part of a book of the Old Testament.  How about starting with Ruth?  We will be studying this in our Cell Groups and hearing from Ruth in our Sermons on Sunday. 

In the Book of Ruth we find the true faith and sacrifice of a Moabite woman is honored by God. Because of Ruth’s faithfulness to her mother-in-law Naomi, she appears to have given up her chance of re-marriage after being widowed. But Boaz became Ruth’s Kinsman Redeemer and took her as His wife and their child Obed was the grandfather of David, King of Israel. Through this study we will see God’s desire for the nations, His heart for the widowed, orphaned, and lost, and His Salvation plan as He aligned the genealogy that led to Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer.

As you read; BE FILLED.  As you are filled; BE TRANSFORMED.  As you are transformed; ACT on the grace you’ve been given.  I promise, as you do so, your tank will never be found empty and the power of the Holy Spirit will propel you forward!

Peace and Blessings

Dan

The Rev. Daniel C. Morgan

Associate Rector

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By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, January 3, 2010 12:06 pm

2010:  Joy in the Harvest

There can be no doubt that the final days of 2009 were days of joy.  We collectively felt joy in the season of Advent, awaiting the coming of Jesus.  There was great joy in our celebration of Christmas.  I extend my deep gratitude to all who participated in the worship services and especially to those who performed acts of servant leadership in the Christmas services and were involved in the Christmas dinner.  What a day we had celebrating the Lord Jesus’ birthday with joy!

I am looking ahead to the coming year and see it as one to participate in the harvest of God.  There is coming a great restoration to the Body of Christ as we approach the days of harvest.  Those who have labored, those who have sacrificed, those who have suffered for Christ and for the Gospel, will see a return for their investment.  There are going to be miraculous outpourings of grace and re-ordering of church life.  It will be like the words in Psalm 126:5, “those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.  He who goes out weeping carrying see to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”

Think and pray about what these words mean for your circumstances.  Imagine what they might mean for St. Paul’s.  Let’s commit ourselves to a year that emphasizes Joy in the Harvest.

Happy New Year,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector