Fr. Greg

Fr. Greg

Blessings!

Fr. Greg

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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