Fr. Christopher Leighton November 29th

Hurry up and wait

On the Mark November 29th 2009

By , November 29, 2009

Nearness

My generation has felt far away from God.  It has been customary to ponder the absence of God.  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Where is God when it hurts?  These and other such questions have been discussed and discussed.  We were the ones who announced the death of God and at the same time we pushed His name out of the public square.  We forsook prayer in school and civic meetings.

Yes all of this talk is foreign to us at St. Paul’s.  We are countercultural.  Ours is a faith that is robust – even intense.  It is as though we have pondered the words of Goethe who urged that the ministers of his day should proclaim the truth and not their doubts – he had enough of those of his own!

 

Here we know Christ and make Him known.  Jesus Christ and His kingdom are very near to us.  Indeed, we are in Him and He is in us!  The season of Advent, which begins today, announces the nearness of the Kingdom of God.  In Advent, we believe that Jesus is coming soon.  I encourage you to prepare yourself.

Your brother in Christ,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

On the Mark November 22nd 2009

By , November 22, 2009

Evangelism Now

The church that is not evangelizing is fossilizing.  To evangelize means to share the good news.  While sharing the good news might include showing people that we care for them – in fact that is the best beginning – sharing the good news also means that we care so much for them that we tell them about Jesus.  It is as though we have found the source of water in the desert and it would be criminal NOT to tell others.  Have you ever thought about your faith that way?  People are lost without Jesus;  they really need Him.

In addition a church whose members do not share their faith is a church that is dying and is under the judgment of God.  God expects us to tell others.  How else will they know about His wonderful Son?

In December, we are being given the opportunity to share our faith in a number of ways.  On Saturday, December 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Dan Mohler (www.neckministries.com) will be teaching us new ways to share the timeless gospel of Jesus with others.  And we will go out on mission and then return to tell of what God has done. 

On Sunday, December 13, after the 10:30 service we will go caroling in Darien to stores and restaurants and on street corners.  Each year, this is gladly received by our community.

Another way you might consider sharing your faith is by inviting a friend, acquaintance or family member to church.  Did you know that the time most people begin going to church, or return to church, is the holiday season.  The people around you need God!

And the church needs to evangelize or it will die and fossilize!

Yours in Christ,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

Dan Scribner - Joshua Project November 22nd

By , November 22, 2009

Dan Scribner talks about the Joshua Project.

Fr. Christopher Leighton Hebrews 13 November 15th

Fr. Christopher sermon on Hebrews 13

On the Mark November 15th 2009

By , November 15, 2009

Situation Normal…

Situation Normal for the Christian is to be all filled up. The normal life is a Spirit-filled life of the believer. Our rule and our trends, our standard and our typical experience, is fullness, abundance, and outpouring. The usual and natural happenings, the common and general occurrences are saturated with Holy Spirit presence and power. Right?

Well, actually, the often repeated saying is “situation normal: all fouled up!” We operate frequently out of weakness and paucity, emptiness and dryness. Or it may even be worse: we function out of the flesh – our fallen sinful nature. Right?

What can we do; who will we be? Jesus described the reality of the believer with his promise in Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses.”

We need fresh in-filling; let’s receive the Holy Spirit anew. We will walk in grace and move in power. Our situation will be normal: filled up!

Your brother,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

Fr. Daniel Morgan Hebrews 12 November 8th

By , November 8, 2009

Fr. Daniel Morgan preaches on Hebrews 12

On the Mark November 8th 2009

By , November 8, 2009

A Month of Thanksgiving;

A Life of Thanks-living

 

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and make good your vows to the Most High.”                                                 Psalm 50:14

 

November is a great month!  It is still autumn, weather can be quite nice, and you can see into the woods again!  It is also a time for rich, spiritual growth.  I have made the month of November a month for giving thanks as a purposeful activity.  For example, it is good to say “thank you” to those who serve you at work or in stores and restaurants, even to family members.  Have you ever thanked someone so much they became embarrassed – they may tell you how infrequently it actually happens!

I suggest that you recall someone who has made an impact upon your spiritual life.  Give thanks to God for that person. It may be a parent, a teacher, a pastor, or a friend.  If possible, make a point of calling that person or writing to say “thank you”.

 If we took a month, we would not run out of things to be thankful for!  If we took this month of November to be purposefully thankful our thanksgiving would become thanks-living!

 

Love in Christ,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

Fr. Christopher Hebrews 11 November 1st

Fr. Christopher continues the sermon series today with Hebrews 11

On the Mark November 1st 2009

By , November 1, 2009

Stand and Go

I commend you, members of St. Paul’s, for your strong stand and your commitment to go forward in following the Lord, going only in the direction He leads you to go.

No one can question the commitments this parish has made over the years.  You have absolute loyalty to God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  You are living out your mission “to know Christ and to make Him known”.  Your belief in the Bible as God’s infallible Word is the expression of your desire to obey the Lord whom you love.  Your fellowship in the Gospel creates a loving parish where joy in worship leads to healing and mission to the world.  You go forward as the Lord directs your lay and clergy leaders.

Yet there are places where your stand for Christ will not allow you to go.  You will not tolerate teaching which goes against the Lord and His Word.  There is much in The Episcopal Church with which you disagree.

I have been asked about the recent overtures by the Vatican to incorporate disgruntled Anglicans into the Roman Catholic Church.  Some people have received this invitation by Pope Benedict XVI to be good news.  The Pope’s offer shows just how deep the crisis in Anglicanism is.  Yet I believe the views of St. Paul’s will clash with such teaching as papal infallibility, the sacrifice of the Mass, the authority of the tradition of the church, the ministry of the clergy and laity, and the current views about the Virgin Mary.  There are probably additional disagreements with Rome.  I don’t see us going there.

Where are we going?  We are keeping our feet under us as we stand for God’s Word.  We are keeping our eyes on Christ as He leads us.  We are clasping one another’s hands as we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit.  God shows us the way one step at a time.  You are moving forward, St. Paul’s, and I commend you!

 

Love in Christ,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

Panorama Theme by Themocracy