The VP & the ACNA

It seems that the former Governor of my state, the current Vice President of the United States, has been attending a parish in the Anglican Church in North America.  I knew that one of the President's formal rivals was Anglican (in the ACNA), but I did not know that the Vice President had an Anglican connection.  -  Frankly, I am encouraged to hear this news.

It is my prayer that the ACNA might be used by God to help shape Mr. Pence's life in Christlikeness, as well as to help shape his thinking in ways that are consistent with the historic Church and with the New Testament. 

The article can be found at Virtue Online, here.

Perfect People Welcome!

I'm sure that many of you have heard the slogan, just as I have.  In fact, just the other day, again, I was looking at a church that we were thinking about attending during our upcoming vacation, and there it was; that slogan:  "No Perfect People Allowed."

Well, a few weeks ago, I was preaching from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:39-48.  And in this sermon, I take issue with that slogan.  You see, it's not a slogan that fits with the good news of the Gospel, and it certainly ought not be found in any Wesleyan/Methodist Church.

Since, I'm just discovering how to move one of our sermon videos from the Heartland Church to my blog (I'm not very tech savvy!), I thought this would be a good place to start.  -  In the future, I may try to post my weekly sermons, and perhaps even go back to include some that I have preached in the recent past.  (Perhaps the one on Baptism of the Lord Sunday would fit this blog's emphasis, well.)  -  In any case, I hope that this sermon ministers to you!  -  "Perfect People Welcome!"

Taking Up the Daily Office for Lent

The Constitution of the Wesleyan-Anglican Society encourages members of the Society to pray the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer, as well as to pray the Litany on Wednesdays and Fridays. 

I have made this a habit for years and find it to be an important part of my spiritual life.  Though there have been occasions when I have been able to pray the Daily Office in a group, usually this is something that I do alone.  -  And yet, I am keenly aware that I am not alone.  Rather, I am joined by sisters and brothers around the world and throughout time, from various traditions within the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. 

Over the years, I have prayed using various versions of the Book of Common Prayer including the 1662, the 1928, the 1979, the ACNA version, and Wesley's The Sunday Service.  This latter one is the version that I have most often used.  -  A link to each of these BCP versions can be found on the sidebar of this blog.

We are now in the beginning days of Lent.  If the praying of the Daily Office is not a current practice for you, I want to encourage you to take it up during this Lenten season.  -  Perhaps you will find it to be as spiritually profitable as I have, as you join in the prayers of the People of God around the world and throughout history!

More Eucharistic Hymns

Earlier this week, all three of the hymns that I sang during my time praying the Daily Office were really good and quite singable.  Allow me to share them with you.  (From The Eucharistic Hymns of John and Charles Wesley by J. Ernest Rattenbury).

 

71

 

1. Draw near, ye blood-besprinkled race,

And take what God vouchsafes to give;

The outward sign of inward grace,

Ordain'd by Christ Himself, receive:

The sign transmits the signified,

The grace is by the means applied.

 

2.  Sure pledges of His dying love,

Receive the sacramental meat,

And feel the virtue from above,

The mystic flesh of Jesus eat,

Drink with the wine His healing blood,

And feast on th' Incarnate God.

 

3. Gross misconceit be far away!

Through faith we on His body feed

Faith only cloth the Spirit convey,

And fills our souls with living bread,

Th' effects of Jesu's death imparts,

And pours HIs blood into our hearts.


72

1. Come, Holy Ghost, Thine influence shed,
And realize the sign;
Thy life infuse into the bread;
Thy power into the wine.

2. Effectual let the tokens prove,
And made, by heavenly art,
Fit channels to convey Thy love
To every faithful heart.


73

1. Is not the cup of blessing, blest
By us, the sacred means t' impart
Our Saviour's blood, with power imprest
And pardon to the faithful heart?

2. Is not the hallow'd broken bread
A sure communicating sign,
An instrument ordain'd to feed
Our souls with mystic flesh Divine?

3. Th' effects of His atoning blood,
His body offer'd on the tree,
Are with the awful types bestow'd
On me, the pardon'd rebel, me;

4. On all who at His word draw near,
In faith the outward veil look through:
Sinners, believe, and find Him here;
Believe, and feel He died for you.

5. In memory of your dying God,
The symbols faithfully receive,
And eat the flesh and drink the blood
Of Jesus, and for ever live.