PRAYER REQUEST

Please keep William Herman in your prayers.  He is in hospital at Children’s in Cincinnati due to severe migraines.  The doctors are administering medication that must be monitored.  He is expected to be there until Sunday.  More details as they are available.

Fr. Greg

EZRA NOWRY IS BORN

Praise God for a safe birth for Ezra!  Mom and son are doing fine.  Fr. Harry will give us more details as they are available.

Fr. Greg

PRAYER REQUEST

I just received a call from Fr. Harry.  His daughter, Sarah, is now in labour at Miami Valley Hospital.  Ezra is ready for the world.  So, please keep Sarah and Ezra in your prayers as they continue to work together toward his birth.  Please keep Sarah’s husband, Matthew, in your prayers as well.

Blessings!

Fr. Greg

25 JANUARY 2012, CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL

Today is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, the Apostles to the Gentiles.  Today is also the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  We will celebrate Holy Eucharist at 12:00 p.m. (noon) today.  We will also be led in Evening Prayer at 7 p.m. by Reader Jeff Brown.

ABOUT THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL

The conversion of the anti-Christian zealot, Saul, to the apostle of Christ, Paul, is clearly related in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, but it has to be remembered that this was a beginning: Saul took some time to become Paul and some time to begin to understand that his call to preach – to Jew and to Gentile – the saving power of Jesus, the Son of God, was something that was a whole life’s journey for him.  Paul says in his Letter to the Church in Galatia, “God set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace … Three years after (the Damascus Road conversion), I went up to Jerusalem.”  The preparation for this moment of his conversion was his whole life.  This feast has been celebrated in the Church since the sixth century but became universal in the twelfth century.

THE COLLECT FOR THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL

Almighty God, who caused the light of the gospel to shine throughout the world through the preaching of your servant Saint Paul: grant that we who celebrate his wonderful conversion may follow him in bearing witness to your truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

22 JANUARY 2012, 3RD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

Today is the Third Sunday after Epiphany.

Sunday School is available for all ages at 9:30 a.m.  Fr. Harry will continue with a new teaching series for the Adult Forum.

Holy Eucharist is at 10:30 a.m.  Everyone is welcome!  Today, the homily will focus on the Gospel reading from St. John 2:1-11.  Fr. Greg is our preacher and the homily is entitled: ” Prepare for a Wedding Party!”

The Anglican Student Association will meet at the church at 1:30 p.m. for an important discussion and planning session.

COLLECT FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,  now and for ever.  Amen.

18 JANUARY 2012, CONFESSION OF ST. PETER

Today is the Feast of the Confession of St. Peter.  This day also begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  Today we will celebrate Holy Eucharist at 12:00 p.m. (noon).  Also, we will be led in Evening Prayer by Reader Jeff Brown tonight at 7 p.m.

THE CONFESSION OF ST. PETER

The beginning of the ministry of the Apostle Peter at Rome has been commemorated in that city from ancient times.  The feast, known as the ‘Chair of Peter’, is a reminder of the chair or cathedra on which a bishop sits and teaches.  The traditional readings for the day include Peter’s acclamation of Jesus, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God’, a confession which has given its name to this commemoration.  Since 29 June may be observed as the Feast of both Peter and Paul, today’s feast allows Peter to be commemorated alone, and mirrors the remembrance of Paul a week later.  These two days, the Confession of Peter and the Conversion of Paul, bracket the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  As Paul’s conversion reminds us that we are united in a call to proclaim Jesus among the nations, so Peter’s confession reminds us that we are united in proclaiming the divine revelation of Jesus Christ, ‘the Son of the living God’.

A READING FROM A SERMON BY ST. LEO THE GREAT

The Lord once asked the apostles what people thought of him.  As long as they related the uncertainties of the foolish about him, they all said the same.  But when Jesus asked the disciples what they themselves actually thought, it was the man who held first place among the apostles who was first to confess the Lord.

Peter declared, ‘You are the Christ, the son of the living God.’  To this Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’  In other words, you are blessed because my Father has taught you this.  You have not been deceived by the opinions of the world, but informed by heavenly inspiration; it was not flesh and blood, but the One whose Son I am who has revealed this to you.

Jesus continued, ‘And I tell you’, meaning, that as my Father has revealed to you my divinity, so I will now make known to you your high position: ‘that you are Peter.’  What Jesus means is that I am the secure rock, the cornerstone which unites, that foundation which no one else can ever lay.  But you Peter also are a rock because by my strength you are made firm, with the result that you and I share together those things which are my special prerogative by right.

‘And on this rock I shall build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’  On this strong foundation, Jesus says, I will build an everlasting temple and my church will rise high to heaven upon the strength of this faith.  The gates of hell will not imprison this confession, nor the chains of death bind it.  Your voice is the voice of life: as it lifts up to heaven those who confess it, so it plunges into hell those who deny it.  That is why Jesus said to blessed Peter, ‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.  Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’

The right to this power was handed on to the other apostles and the provisions of this decree have been passed on to all the leaders of the church.  But it was not an idle gesture to put into one person’s keeping what was to be communicated to all.  This commission was given to Peter in particular because the example of Peter is placed before all the leaders of the church.

THE COLLECT FOR THE CONFESSION OF ST. PETER

Almighty God, who inspired your apostle Saint Peter to confession Jesus as Christ and Son of the living God: build up your Church upon this rock, that in unity and peace it may proclaim one truth and follow one Lord, your Son our Saviour Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Job opportunity Friday, Jan. 27

Hello,

My mom, Doris Prenger, is looking for an actor to pretend be a nursing home resident on Friday, January 27th from 8 a.m. to about 4 p.m. Mom administers the State of Ohio nurses’ aide test for Ohio Medical Career Center students located in The Job Center on Edwin C. Moses Blvd. Candy Jacques, Lisa Trimbach, Karla Herman and Darlene Prenger have all been the actor for Mom – we can let you know the details. This is a paying job.

Please contact me via email if you are interested in working for Doris Prenger of Friday, January 27th.

Karla Herman

BIBLE STUDY TONIGHT

This is a reminder that our first Bible Study will begin this evening, using the Crown Financial Ministries study series entitled, ““The Crown Biblical Financial Study for Life Groups.”  Mr. Duane Veley has gracious offered to be our instructor throughout this course.  Duane Veley will host the introductory session tonight at his house.

The Introductory Session will be held Tuesday, 17 January 2012, 7-9 p.m.  The purpose of the Introductory Session is to provide a packet of resources, provide orientation for the course, and answer any questions you may have.  Session One will actually be held Tuesday, 31 January 2012, 7-9 p.m.

If you would like to be part of this study series, or need Duane’s address or directions, please contact Mr. Duane Veley at dveley@covad.net.

Fr. Greg

17 JANUARY 2012, ST. ANTONY THE GREAT

Today we commemorate St. Antony the Great, Abbot.  St. Antony the Great is Br. Antony’s patron saint.  Happy Name Day, Br. Antony!!!

THE LIFE OF ST. ANTONY THE GREAT

The life of Saint Antony (the authorship of which same is ascribed to Saint Athanasius) has the following items regarding him who is venerated as the first Abbot of monks.  Antony as an Egyptian, the child of noble and Christian parents, whom he lost while yet very young.  On one occasion he heard read in church this passage of the Gospel: “If you will be perfect, go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor.”  He straightway took these words as addressed to himself personally, and therefore distributed all his possessions to the poor.  Since he was about to enter the field of battle against Satan, he first gave heed to the examples set by all those who were eminent for any grace, and strove to copy them.  He was excelled by none in watchfulness and self-restraint, and continual study of the Holy Scriptures.  He had such a loathing of hereticks and schismatics, specially Arians, that he would never go near them.  He slept lying on the ground.  He took nothing with his bread but salt, and drank only water.  He never ate or drank before sunset, and often abstained from food altogether for two days at a time.  Very often he passed whole nights in prayer.  And being so valiant a soldier of God, he was attacked by the devil with various temptations.  He betook himself to the deserts round about Egypt, where many disciples became monks under his direction.  Day by day the attacks of the fiends became more violent, but day by day his strength grew greater to strive against them.  At length he came to mock at their powerlessness, saying: “Satan is afraid of good men’s prayers and fasts, but above all, of their warm love of our Lord, and mere Sign of whose holy Cross is enough to put him to flight.”  He became such an object of dread to the devils, that many persons tormented by them were delivered by calling on his name.  Moreover, the fame of this holiness was so spread abroad that Constantine the Great and his sons wrote to him to commend themselves to his prayers.  In the hundred and fiftieth year of his age, having roused up great numbers to follow his example, he passed to heaven, on January 17th, in the year 356.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. ANTONY THE GREAT

O God, by your Holy Spirit you enabled your servant Antony to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil: Give us grace, with pure hearts and minds, to follow you, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

The is the monastery of St. Antony, the very place where he established the community of monks that succeeds to this day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the cave, on the side of the mountain above the monastery, where St. Antony lived many years.

Baby Shower

Here is the link for Sarah Mathis Nowery’s wish list for baby Robert Ezra. It is just to give people a general idea of what they need — but they will be very appreciative of anything we offer. Please let Tammy Abshear or me know if you are coming to the baby shower next Sunday afternoon from 5-7 at the church. (Dinner included….young girls welcome too!)

Dss Candy

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html?ie=UTF8&type=baby&id=ZTM33D1LFRRG

Interested in Helping Teach our Children and Young People?

There will be a one-hour meeting at the church on Monday, January 16, at 7:00 p.m. for anyone interested in working with or teaching our children and young people.  Even if you just want to help out occasionally, we would really appreciate your being there to give your input.

Dss. Candy

January Prayer Walk

In lieu of our 2nd Saturday Prayer Walk, please come to Christ Our Hope at 9 am to pray for our neighbors and all our parish families.  -Jeff

NO EVENING PRAYER TONIGHT

There will be no Evening Prayer at the church this evening.

Fr. Greg

EVENING PRAYER TONIGHT

Brothers and Sisters of Christ our Hope:

Tonight Evening Prayer will be led by Reader Jeff Brown at 7 p.m.  We will use much the same format as you experienced during Advent Evensong, though some Wednesdays will have music and others will be a said service.  I encourage you to come out and be blessed with the opportunity to pray for your parish family, friends, family, community, nation…and all of creation.

Fr. Greg

11 JANUARY 2012

Today we will celebrate Holy Eucharist at 12:00 p.m. (noon).  We commemorate Bl. Mary Slessor, Missionary in West Africa, 1915.

THE LIFE OF BL. MARY SLESSOR

Mary Slessor was born into a working-class, Presbyterian family in Aberdeen in 1848.  As a child in Dundee, she was enthralled by the stories of missions in Africa.  For years, she read diligently as she worked in the mills, and eventually, in 1875, she was accepted as a teacher for the mission in Calabar, Nigeria.  Her fluency in the local language, physical resilience and lack of pretension endeared her to those to whom she ministered.  she adopted unwanted children, particularly twins who would otherwise, according to local superstition, have been put to death.  She was influential in organizing trade and in settling disputes, contributing much to the development of the Okoyong people with whom she later settled.  She died, still in Africa, on this day in the year 1915.

THE COLLECT FOR BL. MARY SLESSOR

Everlasting God, whose servant Bl. Mary Slessor, carried the good news of your Son to the people of West Africa: grant that we who commemorate her service may know the hope of the gospel in our hearts and manifest its light in all our ways; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

It’s a Party!

Hey everybody! Let’s celebrate Darlene Prenger’s 50th birthday together!!!

The Prenger family invites you to celebrate Darlene’s birthday at the Christ Our Hope Church reception hall. We will have games, photos, trivia, and hors d’oeuvres. The cake will be cut at 3pm.

Join us for a fun afternoon to help Darlene get over the hill!!!

Please no gifts. This Saturday Jan 14. 2 – 5 pm.

Pat

Today is the First Sunday after Epiphany, also known as Baptism of the Lord Sunday.

We have Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 a.m.  Fr. Harry will be teaching the Adult Forum continuing his series “Four Conversations & a Concept: Foundations for Living s Spiritual Life.”   We will focus on the Roman Centurion at Capernaum in Luke 7:1-10.  Our theme is: ”Authority and the Spiritual Life.”

Holy Eucharist is at 10:30 a.m.  Fr. Greg will preach today on Acts 19:1-7: “Getting Wet in Jesus’ Name.”

Prayer Request: B. Abshear accident

Hello,

Brennen Abshear hurt his hand during work today. Urgent Care sent him to the hospital because they thought that his injuries might need surgery. Please pray!

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY

Happy Epiphany to you all!  Today is the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ.  We will celebrate the feast day with Holy Eucharist tonight at 7 p.m., followed by fellowship.

5 JANUARY 2011, ST. TELESPHORUS

Today is the 12 Day of Christmas.  Today we also remember St. Telesphorus, Pope and Martyr

THE LIFE OF ST. TELESPHORUS

On January 5th is commemorated holy Telesphorus, who was a Greek by birth, and is reckoned as the eighth Bishop of Rome; for about the year 126 he succeeded Saint Sixtus I, and ruled for ten years or more, during the havoc which Hadrian wrought amongst the faithful; and ended his life by an illustrious martyrdom.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. TELESPHORUS

Be merciful to the people of thy flock, O Lord, eternal Shepherd and Bishop of the souls of men: and keep us in thy continual protection, at the intercession of thy blessed Martyr, the Holy Father Telesphorus, whom thou didst raise up in thy Church to be thin under-shepherd.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.