Rev. Novella Lawrence – November 20th
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November and Giving Thanks
By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, November 13, 2011 4:14 pm
“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1
One of the reasons I love the month of November is that it climaxes with the national holiday of Thanksgiving. There is the food, the cooking, the company of family and friends, even football! I especially appreciate the fact that our nation stops to give thanks – many even include giving thanks to God!
I encourage you to make this act of giving thanks something you do each day this month – it just may become a habit!
Lastly, ask the Lord to bring to your mind the person He is leading you to contact and to offer your thanks to them for sharing their faith with you. Several years back, Reg Jones took this advice and contacted Renny Scott, a former St. Paul’s clergyman. Renny and Reg renewed an old friendship as a result.
Let’s give thanks together!
Christopher
The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton
Rector
Fr. Christopher Leighton – November 13th
Fr. Jordan Easley – November 6th
By Jordan Easley, November 6, 2011 3:46 pm
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Come to the Feasting House
By Jordan Easley, November 5, 2011 9:13 pm
When the Anglican Church was officially established in the 1500’s, one of its first great books was the Book of Homilies, written in 1547 and 1562. The first generation of Anglican leaders were fully committed to preaching the Word of God, but since many of their pastors had not been trained to do this, they created this two volume book of thirty-three sermons, so that lay people could (at least) have a Bible-based sermon read to them. The selection below is from one of these sermons, and I believe it is just as timely for Anglicans today as it was 500 years ago.
“Now come therefore dearly beloved, without delay, and cheerfully enter into God’s feasting house, and become partakers of the benefits provided and prepared for you. But see that you come here with your holy-day garment, not like hypocrites, not for a custom and for manners sake, not with loathsomeness…come to the church on the holy-day, and come in your holy-day garment.
“That is to say, come with a cheerful and a godly mind; come to seek God’s glory and to be thankful unto him. Come to be at one with your neighbor, and to enter in friendship and charity with him. Consider that all your doings stink before the face of God, if you be not in charity with your neighbor. Come with a heart sifted and cleansed from worldly and carnal affections and desires. Shake off all vain thoughts which may hinder you from God’s true service.
“The bird, when she will flee, shakes her wings. Shake and prepare yourself to flee higher than all the birds in the air, that after your duty duly done in this earthly temple and church, you may flee up, and be received into the glorious temple of God in heaven, through Christ Jesus our Lord. To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all glory and honour. Amen.”
Jordan
The Rev. Jordan Easley
Assistant
Bishop William Murdoch – All Saints Day – October 30th
The Call
By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, October 29, 2011 10:22 pm
A long time ago we sang a song, “I heard the Lord call me name, listen close you’ll hear the same.” Peter Marshall, the Chaplain to the US Senate a generation ago, described the call of God as being as though you were walking along a crowded busy sidewalk and from behind you are tapped upon the shoulder. At once you turn and respond to the call of God and follow Him.
In the end (as it was in the beginning) what matters most is following Jesus. If we follow Jesus everything falls into line.
In Isaiah 43:1-3, the prophet writes, “But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, O Jacob. He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. …When you walk through the fire you will not be burned. … For I am the Lord your God.’”
If you respond to His call and follow Him, he will always show you the way to go.
With joy in the journey,
Christopher
The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton
Rector
The Rev. Gabrielle Beam -October23rd
By St. Pauls Darien Guest, October 23, 2011 9:27 pm
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St. James the Just
By Jordan Easley, October 22, 2011 9:35 pm
Today is the feast day of St. James the Just. He was one of Jesus’ younger brothers, as was Jude. He was not one of the original twelve disciples, but after he saw Jesus risen from the dead, he believed! For thirty years, he was the bishop of the church at Jerusalem. During that time, he wrote the book of the Bible, the Epistle of James.
“Through his preaching, his prayers, and his example, James converted many people to Christ. He was on his bare knees so often, worshipping God and praying for forgiveness for the sins of the people, that his knees became numb and calloused, like the knees of a camel. This also earned him the nickname of ‘James the Just’. He was respected by everyone, even many who opposed what he taught and believed.
“Feeling threatened by the rapid growth of the church, the chief priest, scribes, and Pharisees came up with a plan. They would force this well known church leader to deny his faith before the multitude. But James refused to cooperate. From his place at the top of the temple, he preached with more boldness than ever. Every person in the crowd below looked up as he proclaimed, ‘Jesus is the promised Messiah! He is sitting at the right hand of God, and shall come again in the clouds of Heaven, to judge the quick and the dead!
“When the crowd below saw his courage and heard his bold words; they loudly praised God and magnified the name of Jesus. Enraged two or three of the religious leaders jumped forward and pushed James off the temple roof. Miraculously, James was not killed by the fall; only his legs were broken. Then the priests, scribes, and Pharisees said, ‘Let us stone the ‘just man’ James.’ They picked up rocks to stone him to death. James, kneeling on his broken legs, prayed, ‘Lord, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’
One of the priests, when he heard James praying, begged the others to stop, saying ‘What are we doing? ‘The Just’ is praying for us. Stop the stoning! Stop the stoning!’ While he was shouting this, another man ran up with a big, heavy stick in his hand and struck James in the head. James died instantly from the blow, still in prayer.” [from Jesus Freaks by D.C. Talk]
Next Sunday we will have a special Family Service, celebrating the Feast of All Saints. Those who have gone before us are celebrating in heaven around the clock. Are you ready to party with them, as we thank God for their example? I’m thankful for St. James the Just. I’m thankful for every one of you.
Your brother
Jordan
The Rev. Jordan Easley
Assistant
Sunday School Memories
By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, October 16, 2011 9:36 pm
Some of my earliest memories are of Sunday School. Because my parents had a call to minister to children (they did so well into their 70’s), I was exposed at an early age to Sunday School picnics, classes, and youth group meetings. I remember vividly coloring in a picture of Jesus the Good Shepherd with His sheep. I don’t think I was over three years old. My parents were Janet’s Sunday School teachers, and she credits them with helping her to know Jesus in a personal way. My mother and father hosted a youth prayer meeting in their home on Monday nights that went on for fourteen years, unabated. My catechism in Sunday School prepared me for my conversion experience when I was sixteen. Everything came together, like the first time a well-built engine had received ignition. I have never looked back, or turned back.
What would you like the earliest and strongest memories of our children to be? There are many forces vying for their attention, and some are evil. What a privilege and a joy it is to build a Sunday School filled with love in Jesus! We believe we are led by Him to train the faith of our young people so they can walk in His miraculous power. I call upon all members of St. Paul’s to pray for our Sunday School – our teachers and children – and to pray about becoming servant leaders as you are able. It will be a memorable experience
Your brother in Christ,
Christopher
The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton
Rector
Themocracy