St James Anglican Church Pentecost and Ordination of a Deacon

Feast of Pentecost
Ordination of Anthony Velez to the Diaconate
Preacher Fr. Carlos Raines
Celebrant Bishop Eric Menees
https://www.stjas.org/sermons.html

Bishop’s Note: The Feast of Pentecost

Bishop Eric Menees

I pray that your Ascensiontide (The time between the Feast of the Ascension and the Feast of Pentecost) has been blessed. Last week, because of Ascension, we took a break from our study of Holy Matrimony in the Book of Common Prayer and looked at the collect for the Feast of the Ascension. The Ascension is, of course, the commemoration of Jesus Christ ascending to be at the right hand of the Father. Some people have called this “a little Advent”, because in the same way our Advent is spent awaiting the coming of Christ, the original Ascensiontide was spent waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. For that reason, I thought it would be good to continue this break one week more and talk about the Feast of Pentecost as seen through the collect for Pentecost.

Almighty God, on this day, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, you revealed the way of   eternal life to every race and nation: Pour out this gift anew, that by the preaching of the Gospel your salvation may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

What we celebrate on the Day of Pentecost is an event in history only surpassed by Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection. In Christ, God became man and dwelt among us, but on Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit coming down on His church, God has come to dwell in and among us. Throughout human history after the fall, humanity has been separated from God. We were created for intimacy with him, but we instead redirect ourselves towards the things of the world, things that won’t ultimately give us joy or fulfillment. Saint Augustine described this by saying of God, “our hearts are restless until they rest in you,” and CS Lewis summed it up by saying each of us has a “God-shaped hole in our hearts.” Through God the Holy Spirit we are invited into a special intimacy with God again. Not only having a relationship with God made man, Jesus, but a relationship that hits us at the core of who we are. On that first Pentecost God revealed to us the way of eternal life because he placed “the Lord the giver of life” in our hearts. This collect begins by recognizing all the above but it doesn’t end there. In it we ask God to “pour out this gift anew.” That’s not us asking to receive the Holy Spirit, which we received in baptism, it’s us asking God to pour out the Holy Spirit on those who haven’t received Him, that “your salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” We’ve been given the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives, that holy flame, and we should pass it on, not worshiping the ashes but spreading the fire. I hope that this time after Pentecost is a time for you to contemplate the Holy Spirit’s role in your life, not only in thanking God for his presence with and in you, but also asking God the Holy Spirit how He wants to involve you in his plan for his salvation to reach the ends of the earth. I pray you all have a blessed Pentecost!

St. James Anglian Church Service Easter 7A

https://www.stjas.org/sermons.html
Father Carlos Raines Preacher

Bishop's Note: Collect for the Feast of the Ascension

Bishop Eric Menees

Recently, in my Bishop’s Notes I’ve been examining the Rite of Holy Matrimony in the 2019 BCP. However, today, May 21st, is the fortieth day after Easter and, throughout the church catholic, this day is known as the Feast of the Ascension - one of the major holy days of the church, which includes Christmas, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, and Pentecost. Many of our parishes will celebrate the reality of the Ascension of our Lord to the right hand of God today, and others will transfer the celebration of this feast to Sunday. In either case, there is no getting around the importance of this event in the life of the apostles, the life of the Church, and our very own lives.

"And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)

With these words, the resurrected Jesus ascended into heaven where he is seated at the right hand of the Father-answering his own question to the disciples in the Gospel of John: “Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” (John 6:62) We proclaim our faith in this reality every Sunday in the Nicene Creed. We state it because it is an important aspect of our faith. We believe that Jesus sits enthroned in power at the right hand of the Father, welcoming the saints into heaven and waiting until the fulfillment of time, when he will return to judge the earth. However, in the meantime, our Lord intercedes on our behalf. What an amazing reality, that the Lord of the universe, our Lord, intercedes on our behalf. What an amazing reality, that the Lord of the universe- the savior of mankind, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords- is the same one who sits at his Father's side, pleading on our behalf. When I was 33 and diagnosed with Avascular Osteonecrosis I offered up sincere prayers for healing in the name of Jesus.  As I did, it was Jesus who leaned over to his Father and interceded on my behalf.  God worked through surgeries, my wife, and medical professionals to heal me. I now have prosthetic hips but God has used this illness to make me a better minister, bishop, son, and husband. Jesus, while seated at the right hand of the Father, is also very present with us in Word and Sacrament. He fills his church with his presence and grace. Lastly, it is with Jesus' ascension into heaven that his promise to, "not leave us orphaned," (John 14:18) was fulfilled, when God sent us the Holy Spirit: "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." (John 14:25-28) The Ascension means that even though things may seem difficult for us in a fallen world, the King is on his throne, and he has sent us the Holy Spirit as our advocate, guide, comforter, and provider. We need not let our hearts be troubled, we need to simply trust in the King! “Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen” God bless you all!

Ascension Day Sermon Bishop Menees

https://drive.google.com/file/d/153jaPSA4acgGBu_NiNoNfhsrySUyUSW6/view

St. James Anglican Church Easter 6A 2020 Service

Easter 6A
Anthony Valdez Preacher
https://www.stjas.org/sermons.html

Bishop’s Note: Holy Matrimony – The Purpose of Marriage

Bishop Eric Menees

As we continue our examination of the rite of Holy Matrimony in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer we turn to the stated purpose of marriage. As the priest stands before the bride and groom, having established the theological premise for marriage, he now witnesses to the purpose of marriage to the couple and the congregation. Here we find significant differences between the purposes here and those expressed in the 1979 BCP. 

In the 1979 BCP the procreation of children is tertiary to joy, help, and comfort.  The 2019 BCP reflects the biblical purpose for marriage - the creation of a family, in response to God’s call to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28).  In addition, the 2019 BCP states the spiritual foundation for the couple, the church and society: “to maintain purity, so that husbands and wives, with all the household of God, might serve as holy and undefiled members of the Body of Christ;”. Marriage is meant to bless the bride and groom, to lead them into a good and holy life which will in turn be a blessing to the church, the Body of Christ, and society as a whole.

The point being that marriage is about much more than the individual couple, it is about the very fabric of society. It is for that reason that “marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately.”  Premarital counseling is a requirement in the ACNA for marriage in order to assist the couple to advisedly, soberly, reverently, and deliberately enter into this lifelong union.

Equally, the community gathered is asked to speak out if there is just cause why they may not be married in accordance with God’s Word. Again, this represents a difference between the 1979 and 2019 BCP as the statement in the 1979 BCP is: “If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now; or else for ever hold your peace.” The emphasis is lawful marriage as opposed to the greater concern of being in accord with the Word of God in the 2019 BCP.

The institution of marriage is first and foremost about God and honoring him. When we honor God, we receive the blessings that come from being the beloved children of God that he desires for us, and that blessing extends to the community around us. 

I pray that as you read through the following paragraphs you will be blessed as you contemplate the meaning and purpose of Holy Matrimony.

“The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind was ordained by God: for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord; for mutual joy, for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; to maintain purity, so that husbands and wives, with all the household of God, might serve as holy and undefiled members of the Body of Christ; and for the upbuilding of Christ’s kingdom in family, church, and society, to the praise of his holy Name.

Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was ordained by Almighty God.

Into this holy union N.N. and N.N. now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not be married in accordance with God’s Word, speak now; or else for ever hold your peace.”

St. James Anglican Church Service

Easter 5A 2020
Sermon by Father Carlos
https://www.facebook.com/stjas.org/videos/232904914807549/

Rite of Holy Matrimony

Bishop Eric Menees

We continue our examination of the Pastoral Rites in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer, specifically the rite of Holy Matrimony. Note that I say rite as in ritual as opposed to “right” as in a moral or legal entitlement.  I say this because over the past 25 years and specifically since the US Supreme Court decision known as Obergefell v. Hodges which redefined marriage in the United States allowing for same-sex marriage as a “right.”

The service begins with the priest giving the welcome and introduction which clearly states the reason for our gathering:

“Dearly beloved: We have gathered together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony.”

The community has gathered in the presence of God. While it is accurate to say that God is omnipresent, specific places have been set aside, literally made holy, such as churches.  It is for this reason that the rite of Holy Matrimony should take place in a church or other sacred space.  This rite deserves the dignity and reverence of being held in a sacred space.

The bride and groom’s families, friends, and church community have gathered to witness the vows to be taken before God and his Church. In addition, they are gathered to bless this relationship about to be made holy in the sacrament of marriage through their presence, prayers, and their faithful support of the couple and their relationship.

The service continues:

“Almighty God established the bond and covenant of marriage in creation as a sign of the mystical union between Christ and his Church. Our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and it is commended by Holy Scripture to be held in honor among all people.”

Theologically this sacrament of marriage is about much more than this specific relationship.  Firstly, it mystically reflects the love between Christ (the bridegroom) and his Church (the bride). Over and over again Holy Scripture uses this metaphor to help us to understand a present relationship and a future reality. Secondly, it is made clear that our Lord himself blessed marriage by his presence at the wedding in Cana found in the second chapter of the Gospel according to John.  Jesus’ presence and support were in support of Holy Scripture, which lay out the order of creation (Genesis 1 & 2) and includes the direct statement, “a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

It is clear that from the beginning of time God specifically formed this relationship as the very foundation of creation, and in time, society.

Next week we’ll examine the purpose and meaning of marriage.  Until then, I pray each of you every blessing and good health.

St. James Anglican Church Easter 4A 2020 service

Here is the Easter 4A 2020 service with the sermon by Fr. Dale
https://www.stjas.org/sermons.html