Pentecost 9B 2021 St. James Anglican Church Afternoon Service

St. James Pentecost 9B Afternoon Service

Celebrant and Preacher Fr. Anthony Velez

Dcn. Anna Hearn

https://www.stjas.org/sermons.html

Pentecost 9B 2021 Morning Service

Pentecost 9B 2021

Fr. Dale Matson

The Gospel, A Brief History Of St. James and Surviving A Fall

Proper 12

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire

or deserve: Pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Mark 6:45-52

Jesus Walks on the Water

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night[a] he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

let’s take the story sequentially and unpack this miraculous series of events.   

• Disciples: get into a boat; 

Jesus: goes to a mountain alone to pray. Mark mentions Jesus praying three times in his Gospel. All three times Jesus is alone, in crisis and it is night. In this case the people want to force him to be their king.

• Crowds: are dismissed.

• Boat: sends the disciples to Bethsaida from Tabgha

• Fourth watch: three in the morning.

• Jesus sees the disciples during the fourth watch (Matthew) 3a-6a/DARKNESS

• Struggling against the winds they have by this time rowed about three and a half miles from where they left Jesus (John).

• So, what are our accounts perhaps telling us? Jesus sees the disciples rowing the boat from a distance of three and a half miles in the dark.  I would call this miraculous, also wouldn’t you?

• Disciples: saw Jesus walking on the sea. How did he catch up to them walking as they rowed? This is another miracle. 

• Disciples: were terrified and thought they saw a ghost. 

• Jesus: spoke to them.

• Jesus’ teaching: Take heart; it is I; do not be afraid. This literally is I AM. (Matt)

• The story of Peter; only in Matthew’s account. Peter goes out to meet Jesus walking on water and begins to sink when he takes his eyes of Jesus.

• Took him/them into the boat (only Jesus or Jesus and Peter)

• Wind ceased. Another Miracle the disciples were amazed at this and Mark states that their hearts were hardened (again, they had not made the connection-It had no yet sunk in) for they had not even understood the loaves and fishes. In other words, if they had understood how miraculous it was to feed five thousand, then they should not have been surprised that He could also walk on water.

• Three different reactions to walking on the water: Matthew: worshipped Jesus (Jesus Christ is God). Mark: the disciples didn’t understand because their hearts were hardened. John: no evaluation of the disciples’ reaction. In Matthew, they made the connection.

• And finally, in John’s account it states that when Jesus came into the boat, it immediately reached the shore where they were headed. This is another miracle.

• SUMMARIZE

Within this one story, as told by three of His Disciples, Jesus is able see his disciples struggling against the wind in the dark three and a half miles away, He catches up with them walking on the water, He calms the wind, He refers to himself as “I Am” (God) and His disciples finally make the connection between his miracles and who he is. They worship him and they instantly arrive at their destination when Jesus gets into the boat.

Today is the feast day of St. James our church namesake.

A Brief History of St. James 

St. James Episcopal Church was the first Episcopal Church in Fresno County and was organized on December 15, 1879, a mere five years after Fresno City was chosen as the seat of Fresno county. Before that the town of Millerton was the Fresno County seat. I think there were two main reasons Fresno became the county seat. First, the free running San Joaquin River inundated the town of Millerton and in 1872, the Central Pacific Railroad established a station for its new Southern Pacific line near a farm then owned by Anthony Easterby bounded by the present Chestnut, Belmont, Clovis and California avenues. Soon there was a store and around which grew the town of Fresno Station, later called Fresno. Many Millerton residents, drawn by the convenience of the railroad and worried about flooding, moved to the new community.

D O. Kelley, an Episcopal missionary, traveled up and down the Valley during the previous summer and decided that this area of the Valley would serve as an excellent spot to begin a church. Consequently, in the Fall of 1879, Kelley was assigned to Fresno by the Missionary Board of the Episcopal Church and began organizing congregation. 

During this time, the population of Fresno was only 600 people and there were already two churches, but the rowdy frontier population could use all the spiritual guidance it could get! The first services of St. James Episcopal Church were held in a lawyer’s office above a saloon. The congregation later moved to a nearby school room before finally building the first church which the congregation of St. James occupied by the end of 1884.

Despite the small town and the presence of other churches, the congregation grew quickly. Within ten years of the church’s founding membership had to climbed to 275 people. Given the growth, St. James quickly outgrew the original small church building. In 1901, the congregation tore down the existing building. By the end of 1902, the congregation moved into a larger church building that included a new rectory (clergy resident) at First and N Streets.

At the beginning of the 20th Century, the population in the Valley was expanding quickly. In response to the growth, the Episcopal Church created a new diocese in 1910 that rapidly spread up and down the Valley from Stockton in the north to Bakersfield in the south.

The newly formed Diocese of San Joaquin now needed a bishop and a cathedral. The Reverend Louis Sanford soon would be called to be the First Bishop of San Joaquin. Guided by the persuasive St. James Vestry, Bishop Sanford designated Fresno as the location of the Bishop See meaning that St. James would be the cathedral for the Diocese of San Joaquin. Reverend G. R. E. MacDonald came from the church in Hanford to serve as the first Dean of St. James Cathedral.

https://www.stjamesfresno.org/history

We are about to start a new chapter for St. James. We have called Noah Lawson as our new rector coadjutor. When St. James and Our Lady become a single church, I suppose we will also have a new name. I am somewhat sad that our church will no longer be called St. James but understand and accept the reality. Jesus renamed three of his disciples. Simon became Peter, and James and John were nicknamed the Sons of Thunder. 

I understand that Fr. Carlos and Fr. Anthony will continue to serve which means that the united congregation will have two deacons and four priests. Sharon and I have been discussing my service at St. James as I approach my seventy seventh birthday in September of this year. 

 

Story about Derek and Me.

Fr. Derek Thomason and I intended to be on an overnight hike to Cottonwood Lakes near Mt. Langley. We did a day hike with full packs, fully intending to head to Fifth Lake but went on the wrong trail and went to Chicken Spring Lake instead (I’ll have more to say about this) We passed the sign on a tree to Chicken Spring Lake and it wasn’t even on my paper map. When we finally realized this, we were too far South on the wrong trail. We also realized there was no trail we could take to get us to the Cottonwood Lakes trail, so we soldiered on up the 1,000’ or so elevation gain on the switchbacks. 

We got to Chicken Spring Lake and decided to head back at 2:30pm. We each called our wives to let them know where we were and what our plans were. I showed Derek how to use the Iridium Sat Phone I always carry. We thought we would find a spot lower on the trail to sleep overnight and packed lots of water. 

Shortly after we made our turn onto the switchbacks again below Cottonwood Pass, we saw a helicopter and were told that a couple of people had to be brought out because of injuries. Not long after that, I fell and bloodied myself pretty good. I hit my head on a big boulder but it was a glancing blow. My right shoulder, arm and hand were scraped up pretty bad. Derek helped me to get back on my feet. It seemed almost impossible that I wasn’t hurt even worse but a verse came to mind, (Psalm 91:11-12)

11 For he will command his angels concerning you

    to guard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up,

    lest you strike your foot against a stone. (ESV)

So, once again we decided to change plans and hike out. My legs were in good shape and we were out before 6pm. Derek suggested we try to find a room in Lone Pine and As I drove the 20 miles to Lone Pine, Derek finally was able to get a signal on his cell phone. On his second try, he talked to a clerk at the Best Western who said she had just got a cancellation for a room with two beds. Thank You Lord for our lodging and watching over us on our hike and travels. After I showered, Derek used the first aid kit in his backpack to patch up my wounds. Thank You Lord. 

I was very fortunate. We saw two separate helicopter flights and found out later that the helicopters were carrying out two women who had fallen off horses and needed air transport to a hospital. The body of a Nevada man missing since the weekend was also discovered near Mt. Clark in Yosemite on Tuesday. 

Falls are common and dangerous for us older folks. My 84-year-old brother Don fell in his basement last week, while showing two firemen where his sewer pipe was. They were there to help him after he fell. We recently went back to Michigan for a memorial service for my older sister. She fell outside one winter and her neighbor heard her calling for help. It was soon after that the rest of us were able to convince her to move to an apartment in town.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy, Amen

St. James Anglican Church Service Pentecost 8B 2021

Pentecost 8B 2021

Celebrant Fr. Anthony Velez

Preacher Fr. Carlos Rains

Deacon Anna Hearn

https://www.stjas.org/sermons.html 

Ordaining Deacons

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters, I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well! In the last Bishop’s Note we looked at the examination in the Form and Manner of Ordaining Deacons (p. 478,) this week we’ll continue our examination by looking at the ordination itself. Every sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. That outward and visible sign always consists of an action or item, and the words of the person administering the sacrament. Baptism for example has the pouring or immersion in water, and the minister saying, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Other parts of the service may be indicated by the BCP, and they may be beneficial by adding prayers and conveying the meaning of what’s happening, but that is all that’s needed and, in a life or death emergency, what’s often done. For ordination to the diaconate it’s the laying on of hands by the bishop and the words that follow it below. This section really hits at the core of what’s going on. A deacon isn’t called to be a junior priest, a deacon is called to a special ministry of servanthood. A deacon is supposed to imitate the servanthood and humility of Christ, and provide a model of that to the others in the congregation. In a sense, the function of the deacon is to lead the people of God from the front into the world. The laying on of hands and the short sentence that follows are the core, but everything else here fleshes out that servant ministry, especially the giving of vestments. The deacon is serving Christ by serving the poor and needy in society, not only in deed, but with the gospel of Jesus Christ. To do this they need that reminder of the yoke of Christ providing strength and the armor of God protecting them.

All now stand as witnesses, except the Ordinands, who kneel facing the Bishop. The Bishop then prays the following prayer, first saying Let us pray. O God, most merciful Father, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to take upon himself the form of a servant. He humbled himself, becoming obedient even to death on a Cross. Yet you have highly exalted him, and made him Lord of all. For this great mystery, and for these your servants whom you now call to obedience after his example, we offer you our most hearty thanks; and we ask that we may daily increase in humility and service, that by their ministry as well as by those with whom they serve, your holy Name may for ever be glorified, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the Bishop lays his hands upon the head of every one to be made Deacon, each one humbly kneeling before him, and says Receive the Holy Spirit for the Office and work of a Deacon in the Church of God, now committed to you by the imposition of my hands; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The Bishop then prays the following over the Ordinands. In your great goodness, O Lord, make these your servants Deacons in your Church; give them grace to be modest, humble, and constant in their ministry; give them a ready will to observe all spiritual discipline; and with the testimony of a good conscience always before them, may they continue stable and strong in the service of your Son Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and honor, world without end. The People in a loud voice respond Amen. The new Deacons may now be vested according to the Order of Deacons. As the Deacon is vested with a maniple, the Bishop says Receive this maniple as a sign of your service, for your Lord came among us as one who served. As the Deacon is vested with a stole, the Bishop says Receive this stole as a sign of the yoke of Christ, your Savior. As the Deacon is vested with a dalmatic, the Bishop says Receive this dalmatic as a sign that you must daily take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Then the Bishop delivers to every one of them a Book of Gospels or New Testament saying Take the authority to read the Gospel in the Church of God and to teach the same. The Bishop then says to the People                The peace of the Lord be always with you. People  And with your spirit.

Pentecost 6B 2021

We Were Founded As A Nation Under God

Fr. Dale Matson

It is often said that we are a nation of laws. We often point to our constitution and bill of rights as our guarantees of freedom. We are not a nation of laws; we are one nation under God indivisible. Our government did not grant our freedoms to us. God granted our freedoms to us. Listen to a portion of our Declaration Of Independence on July 4th 1776. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men; deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”   Our founding fathers were Christians. Listen to this prayer.

“Oh, eternal and everlasting God, direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit. Daily, frame me more and more in the likeness of Thy son, Jesus Christ, that living in Thy fear, and dying in Thy favor, I may in thy appointed time obtain the resurrection of the justified unto eternal life. Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy son, Jesus Christ. – This is a prayer of our first president George Washington. 

It seems only fitting that on Independence Weekend I would be discussing liberty. This is true in our national sense and it is true in a spiritual sense.

Much of our Old Testament is a remembering. It is God through the leaders and prophets reminding the people of their history, their destiny and their dependence on God. This is what we celebrate today also on Independence weekend.

We are told that we should embrace diversity and be tolerant of those who do not hold the same views. I don’t have problems with that as a Christian. The problem is that as a Christian, I am seeing an increasing lack of tolerance for Christian views. We are told that we are no longer a Christian nation yet many of our national songs are filled with a Christian message.

There has been an attempt at uncoupling God from our nation. Leaders say today that we are not a Christian nation but look at the lyrics of some of our national songs. The last verse in “My Country Tis of Thee” states, “Our father's God to, Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing. Long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light; Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King!”

Our Gradual hymn today is “Mansions of the Lord”. At president Ronald Reagan’s funeral, Mansions of the Lord was the Recessional hymn. The celebrant for the funeral, Reverend John Danforth was both a senator and an Anglican Priest.

We are governed by God on earth and in heaven both now and for eternity. You see, as Christian citizens, we are practicing for eternal citizenship in God’s Kingdom. 

At sporting events we only sing only the first verse of “The Star-Spangled Banner” that became our National Anthem. This is the final verse of our national anthem. “O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand, between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation; Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause is just, and this be our motto: "In God is our trust “And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”

In the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” we hear this in the final verse, “In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the Sea, with a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me; As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, While God is marching on.” I was a member of the A-Capella choir that sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic at my High School graduation in 1962. 

The only true freedom is freedom under God. Apart from God we are slaves to sin, and Satan. As it states in our opening Collect, “Grant us, O Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who can-do no-good thing apart from you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will.”

An American athlete qualified in the hammer throw to represent the U.S. in the Olympics. She turned away from the American flag while the national anthem was being played. She said and I quote, "I feel like it was set up. I feel like they did that on purpose, and I was p****d, to be honest," she said of the anthem being played while she was on the podium. https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/28/sport/gwen-berry-us-olympic-trials-spt-intl/index.html

When I was in 6th grade, it was my job to hoist the flag at the beginning of the school day and bring it down at the end of the school day. We would fold it carefully into a triangle. The triangle represented the tricornered hats of the colonial soldiers who fought for our country’s independence. I would then give the flag to our school principal. If it accidently touched the ground it was supposed to be burned. There was a reverance and respect for the flag because it symbolized our country.

Many years ago, when I lived near Milwaukee Wisconsin, residents of South Milwaukee who were mostly Polish immigrants, covered their lawns with small American flags.

One of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln had this to say, “It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, and to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in Holy Scripture, and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.” 

 Adam and Eve exchanged the truth for a lie. They became corrupted with sin and no longer knew what was right and good. They became slaves to sin, the devil and death. They passed this corrupted state unto everyone born on this earth except for Jesus Christ who was born without being corrupted by sin and remained sinless.

So how did God go about restoring humans to the knowledge of the truth? He began by giving them the Law. He started by renewing their minds. The Law told people what was true and right and good. They now knew again the truth. In fact, one could argue that the Law is a kind of Gospel. Listen to how the Law is described in Psalm 119, “Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy Law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.” Only a person who also holds the Gospel of God’s grace can make that statement. The Psalmist loved the Law. Do we love the Law? I believe the extent to which we love the Law is determined by to what extent we understand and have internalized the Gospel. 

 Anglicans recite the Law also called the Decalogue at the beginning of our penitential service. The reality is also that the Gospel is a sword. 

 This is probably correct for the new Christian but as we mature in Christ, we should increasingly see the Law as beautiful, holy and good. St Paul said, “If we are led by the Spirit, we are no longer under the Law.” What this means is that we are no longer under the domination of what we consider to be a “tyrant”. We now see the Law for what it truly is. We love the Law, rejoice in it and obey the Law with the help of the Holy Spirit. 

In 2015 Pastor Stephen McAlpine, offered some insightful and important observations about the future for us as Christians in our country in what he called stage II exile. “Whether we are aware of it or not, the culture we find ourselves in has already dismissed us as irrelevant to their lives. That was stage one of our exile. We were simply ignored and have been dismissed. They have neglected to pass on America’s story. We wrongly assume that we can have more impact on culture than it can have on us.  That is dangerously naive thinking.  Jesus never said the culture will misunderstand you, He said the world will hate you.  He did not say to his disciples, ‘go out there and change culture’; He said, “Fear not, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). https://au.thegospelcoalition.org/article/stage-two-exile-are-you-ready-for-it/

In Stephen McAlpine’s latest book, Being the Bad Guys: How to Live for Jesus in a World That Says You Shouldn’t, (2021), Christians are now the bad guys. McAlpine gave an example of a Christian doctor that was fired for refusing to use preferred pronouns for his transgender patients. He lost his case in court with the court ruling that “…Genesis 1:27 is incompatible with human dignity and conflicts with the fundamental rights of others.” 

Here is what St. Peter had to say in Scripture and is true for us today. “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:11-12)

I would also like to offer a passage from the book of Jude. “But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.  They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’  These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.  Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. (Jude 1:23)

We are not a perfect nation. We sing in “America The Beautiful” America! America! God mend thine every flaw, confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law. Finally, I would like to offer a prayer for our nation as we celebrate Independence Day. This prayer is from our BCP 657 Prayer 39.   

 

For our Nation

“Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure conduct. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom, in thy Name, we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”  

 

  

Bishop's Note:The Examination

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters, I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well! In the last Bishop’s Note we looked at the exhortation in the Form and Manner of Ordaining Deacons (p. 472,) this week we’ll continue our examination by looking at the examination.

The Bishop examines the Ordinands as follows Will you take up this charge gladly and willingly? Answer    I will, the Lord being my helper. Bishop     Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Spirit to take upon yourself this Office and ministry, to serve God for the promoting of his glory and the edifying of his people? Answer    I do so trust. Bishop     Do you believe that you are truly called, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in accordance with the Canons of this Church, to this Office and ministry? Answer    I do so believe. Bishop    Are you persuaded that the Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ? Answer    I am so persuaded. Bishop    Will you diligently read these Scriptures to the people assembled in the church where you are appointed to serve? Answer    I will. Bishop    Will you be diligent to frame and fashion your own lives [and the lives of your families], according to the Doctrine of Christ, and to make yourselves [and    them, as much as you are able], wholesome examples and patterns to the flock of Christ? Answer   I will, the Lord being my helper. Bishop    Will you reverently obey your Bishop and other Ministers who, according to the Canons of the Church, may have charge and authority over you, following with a glad mind and a good will their godly admonitions, and submitting yourself to their godly judgments? Answer    I will, the Lord being my helper. The Congregation may kneel, and prays silently for the fulfillment of these purposes. The Bishop prays Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who has given you a good will to do all these things, grant you also the strength and power to perform them, accomplishing in you the good work which he has begun, that you may be found perfect and without reproach on the last day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Ordinands kneel or lie prostrate, facing the Bishop. The Veni, Creator Spiritus (page 492) or other hymn to the Holy Spirit may be sung or said as a prayer for the renewal of the Church.

Many of us when we think of exams automatically flash back to the ones we took in high school or college. Those exams were there to test our knowledge of a subject. Having an “examination” in this spot may lead people to think of the training for ordination as primarily intellectual or academic, but this shows that’s not the case. Part of their preparation for ordination is of course academic, but it’s so much more than that. The person being examined isn’t being asked questions to gauge their knowledge, but rather to gauge how they will shape their life in ordained ministry. They’re being asked if they believe their calling is from God rather than themselves, if they believe Scripture contains all things necessary for salvation, if they will read scripture regularly, if they will shape their lives around scripture, and if they’ll obey those in authority in the church. They’re being asked to live lives grounded in scripture, but fleshed out in a way that’s so much more than just knowledge. This is true for not only deacons and other clergy, but all of us as Christians. Being a Christian isn’t about giving the proper answer when prompted, it’s about shaping your life around God and his revelation. I pray you all have a blessed Sunday!