Here is an excerpt from Vernon Staley, "The Catholic Religion" on the article of faith from the Nicene Creed, "He ascended into heaven,"

During the great forty days our Lord manifested Himself to the Apostles from time to time. He did not abide with them constantly as before, but only came to them at intervals and for brief periods. There was much uncertainty about His presence; His appearances and His disappearances were alike startling.

Before His death, He taught the disciples that the time would come when He would leave them in bodily presence. He had said,-" It is expedient for you that I go away."(Jn 16:7) A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father."(Jn 16:16) "I leave the world, and go to the Father." (Jn 16:28)

And now, on the fortieth day after His resurrection, the time came when these sayings should be fulfilled. Taking the eleven disciples with Him, He led them for the last time out of Jerusalem, across the brook Kedron, to the summit of Mount Olivet. On the way thither,He delivered to them His final charge in the majestic words, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."(Mt22:18) Then stretching out His hands in blessing, He rose slowly from the earth, and ascended higher and hi~her, until a bright luminous cloud enfolded HIm, and He was lost to view. "It came to pass, while He blessed them,. He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven,"(Lk 24:15)

Behind the cloud how wondrous must the scene have been, for the gates of heaven were lifted up, and the holy angels poured forth to conduct their King, returning from His humiliation,to the highest place of honour at the right hand of the Eternal Father, "He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."(Mk 16:19) The word "sitteth" in the Creed,speaks of the rest, dominion and judgeship of our ascended Lord.

The Ascension is the completion of the Incarnation.The Son of God took our nature in the womb of the Blessed Virgin never to put it off. He donned human nature never to doff it. Hence this article of the Creed teaches us the eternity of the Incarnation. As St. Chrysostom says," He shall for ever inhabit this tabernacle. He has put on our flesh, not as if to lay it aside again, but to have it ever with Himself:' He is still Son of Man, and will be for ever and ever. The truth of the eternal manhood of Jesus is one of supreme importance,for it has much to do with our salvation.

By His Ascension our Blessed Lord opened the gates of heaven which, since the fall, had been closed to man. Our Lord was the first of the human race to enter heaven. He ascended into heaven that we might follow Him;thus He is described as "the Forerunner, entering in for us."(Heb 6:20)A forerunner is one who goes in front that others may follow. He tells us that He went to heaven" to prepare a place for us."(Jn16:2)

My husband and I watched The Avengers with our teenage son the other day. Truly, my favorite part of the movie was when Loki, the evil demigod dude says: "Enough! All of you are beneath me. I am a god, you dull creature and I shall not be bullied..."

Then the Incredible Hulk picks up Loki and smashes him into the floor like a rag doll and says, "Puny god." I leapt out of my seat, whooped, and spilled Coke Zero all over the guy in front of me. Read more

Avengers a great movie, indicative of the ongoing struggle with good and evil and when some evil assume that they are invested with ultimate power, there are those who are empowered by the Almighty Power of God. If God be for us who can be against us!(Romans 8:38) With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26), For nothing is impossible with God (Lk1:37) nothing is invincible!

Can morality evolve as the society evolves? That's the question. Yeah, the understanding of situations may evolve but not the principles themselves. As a Christian and as a pastor I can understand any situation, but in no way can I endorse what is not in keeping with God's word.

In the push for Gay marriage as a norm, even President Barrack Obama, the President of the United States whom I respect and pray for gave his opinion that it should be so. Such a position is against the time honored institution of marriage across all cultures and is diametrically opposed to God's Word in the Holy Bible - "For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."(Mt 19.5,6)

What ultimately matters is what God thinks of and has ordained in the institution of marriage. We need to: "Fear God who can destroy both body and soul," the Lord said (Matt 10:28). "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Prov. 9:10).

And by the way, some say they don't buy the Old Testament as it's too harsh. There are some Christians who believe in only New Testament. Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament -the Promise of Redeemer, that the prophets foretold and that Christ Himself came to fulfill the law?

How convenient or rather how inconvenient it is to accept truth. Welcome to the world of some churches who think that God cannot be locked up in those pages of the Old Testament or who preach that Jesus Christ is not the only way.

Sadly, some churches have endorsed and embraced the position that compromises the traditional understanding of marriage. Where is the churches voice as the custodian of faith and morals?

It's true I cannot claim to know things in fields that I'm not an expert in. So it should it be with politicians, judges or anyone else. Do not play religion or morality for expediency. It's a pathway to eternal salvation. It's a pathway to God.

These days we as a nation are being represented as a country that constructs morality as it goes along, constructing social realities as they perceive it. This definitely has its impact on morality and the result is moral relativism.

We've also heard that a judge thinks that the 10 commandments should be reduced to 6 , knocking out the first four that pertain to God off. Is it inconvenient or has God become inconvenient? How long can we tolerate such idiosyncrasies? When do we say it's enough!

In his September 19, 1796 Farewell Address to the nation, George Washington stated: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens".

William McGuffey, author of the McGuffey's Readers, which were the mainstay of America's public school system from 1836 till the 1920's, wrote: "Erase all thought and fear of God from a community, and selfishness and sensuality would absorb the whole man." ( Courtesy of Moral-Relativism)

Jedediah Morse, Patriot and "Father of American Geography" said: "To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoys. . . . Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all blessings which flow from them, must fall with them. (Source: Jedidiah Morse, A Sermon, Exhibiting the Present Dangers and Consequent Duties of the Citizens of the United States of America (Hartford: Hudson and Goodwin, 1799), p. 9.) (Courtesy of Wall Builders)

As Christians, we need to amend our ways in accordance with Scripture: "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ (Ephesians 4:14-15)

One question of the Lord should cause concern for all of us: "When the Son of man returns will he find faith on earth?"(Lk. 18:8)

"The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be all alone." (Genesis 2:18) "So The Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man's ribs [also translated took part of the man's side] and closed up the place with flesh. Then The Lord God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." (Genesis 2:21-24).  "Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living." (Genesis 3:20). (Picture Adam and Eve by Domenichino courtesy of the Web Art Gallery)

Perfect in beauty and grace, God fashioned Eve from Adam, both in His own image and likeness. He made them for each other. Perhaps the perfect wedding in the Garden of Eden by the Creator Himself. Wish that joy would have continued but with the fall came suffering, pain and death. Eve not only was the mother of all mankind but also of Cain and Abel. Eve was the first to experience all a mother of today experiences. She is the mother of all mankind.,

A great mother and spouse!

Let us take a minute today  and bend our knees in prayer for our country! We pray the Lord to bless our nation - who we always want to be: One Nation under God!
John McNaughton as an artist paints this truth and tells the story 'One Nation under God' in this youtube video:

"Lord bless our land! May we continue to Declare our Dependence on Thee and continue to walk in thy ways!" Amen.
Our fathers' 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.
 
We sing this hymn  every Sunday in declaring our dependence on God in our worship from the 1940 Hymnal

The countdown for the Mothers Day has begun. Starting today, I would like to muse on all of our godly mothers and thank God for them and appreciate them for being  the world's greatest mom for each one of us!

These days, the birthing of any child is usually within the safe environs of a hospital, unlike mine, a home delivery by a village mid-wife, a hard one for my mother because of my big head. Extra prayers were needed for the delivery, my mother told me. I'm thankful for my mom and for the gift of life.

Having been a chaplain for most of my adult years, I have witnessed the joy despite the laborious pains, the sense of fulfillment after the release, an intimate connectivity that is fostered within the womb and goes beyond the umbilical cord, even after it's severed. Every sneeze or cough of the child does not go unnoticed by the moms, so is every word and action, good and bad. Nothing is hidden from a mother's eyes and insight. Perhaps that's why every person fears their mom and would not do things or say certain things if their mother was sitting next to them, not just from fear, but out of reverential respect.

Because you are mothers, you shared your bloodline, your lifeline with us when you carried us within your wombs, we love you. Because you are mothers, even while we were within the womb you cared for us so much that you were careful what to eat and not to eat lest they harm us, we love you. Because you are mothers, who have borne enormous sacrifice without ever complaining, we love you.

Our hearts beat because of you. We are somebody, because of you.
When the whole world takes this time of the year to greet you, we want to say we love you.

We got to know each other in a short while, and began to talk about church, etc. He thought I was going to convert him and I allayed his fears. I was trying to be nice to him, as it was a nasty job. He said we needed to repalce the pump with the float and that it would be expensive. Asking how to keep costs down, his temporary suggestion was that we turn it off at night and turn it back on in the morning. His colleague, Dewey, came up with the suggestion which he typed in the receipt.

 After reading the receipt, I said, "if you think I'm so dumb that I would have to connect 110 +110 extension cord to get 220,

it implies that I'm a fool in your mind. Do you know what happens to those who call others 'fool'? By the Lord's standard: 'Hell!."(Mt 5:22)

I saw his face turn serious. I was playing with him, as I knew he was kidding. I maintained my cool and told him to tell Dewey what I told him. He thought  he

would be in serious trouble but then considered his colleagues at the office would have a good laugh. I said, "not at the customer's expense. I will call you boss."

I explained that I was kidding when he began to worry. He couldn't help laughing when I said "Don't you mess with God nor his clergy".

Thought the whole episode was funny but we had serious theological discussions too, all over a busted sewer pump.

As in keeping with the theme of Anglicanism, that thrived in Britain since the time of the Apostles and was found to be alive and active upon the arrival of St. Augustine in 597in Britain. This is the beginnings that we cling on to, Christianity undefiled, Catholicism pure. Hence I treasure what is conservative, ancient as the faith has been watered down due to political exigencies. Vernon Staley is the one I have quoted often and it gives the glimpse of this wonderful faith, apart from Roman Catholicism. The faith once delivered unto the saints must be kept and preserved.

Z is for Zeal for Jesus, Zeal for His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven!

The kingdom of God is within you (Lk 17:21), Jesus said.
St. Paul writes,"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body.'" Within the soul of every man is a throne upon which either God or sin sits as a king. We pray that God alone may occupy the throne of the heart. When this is so, we shall be able to influence others for good, and so God's Kingdom will spread in the world
we pray for Christ's second coming to judgment, when all remaining enemies shall be put under His feet. Unless the Kingdom- has come to our hearts, we are not ready for Christ's coming at the end of the world. As we cannot alter the Prayer, we must alter our lives, and thus be getting ready for the second coming of our Lord.(Vernon Staley, The Catholic Religion: Guide for Anglican (Circa 1856) p.285
 

By "Thy will be done," we not only mean that all God's appointments of trial or suffering are to be patiently borne, but also that His will may be actively carried out by us. The will of God is not only to be accepted, but it is also to be fulfilled. God has given us a free will, and we pray that in all things, great and small, our wills may follow His, choosing that which He chooses, and rejecting that which He rejects.The rule of life is the same under all circumstances,- to do God's will as we see it.We pray that His will may be'done in earth as it is in heaven. In heaven it is done by the holy angels, consciously and completely, cheerfully and continually.(Vernon Staley, The Catholic Religion)p.286

Some axioms from Saint John Bosco who dedicated his life in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd, in caring for the youth and their souls for God:

Little piece of paradise will make everything alright. If only we had that eternal perspective we would evaluate every thought, word and deed of ours. As Christians, we believe that we will be part of the communion of saints, the great cloud of witnesses and we will worship the Lord God for all eternity.

A priest never goes to heaven or hell alone; a pastor. the moral responsibility that we hold for the souls is immense. Much has been given to us and much will be expected of us. Blessed is the servant whom the Master finds serving upon his arrival.

Zeal for the kingdom of heaven was paramount in the Lord's public ministry. For us Christians in the United States, Christianity has been subjected to so many attacks, subtle but real. Letting such a thing to continue on only will obliterate the Christian faith slowly but surely.

Under the guise of welcoming anything new everybody gets a pass except Christians. Under the political correctness of inclusion, everyone else gets a better treatment than Christians or the Christian principles that have been the foundation of this great nation.

Good Christians and Honest Citizens:Zeal for His kingdom demands that we render unto Ceaser what is Ceaser and unto God what is Gods. Let us continue to be good Christians and honest citizens.

The goodness of America is in the face of tragedy across the globe. When Tsunami or natural calamities strike, we have seen the goodness of America flow in abundance. The number of volunteers that go and serve in the third world country is very inspiring. We will continue to serve the Lord, His kingdom until His Second Coming!

^"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Rev.3:20

Congratulations Jake!

Here's an old posting while he played for the Wisconsin Badgers!
May the Good Lord continue to bless you. Your mom and I are proud of you!

Here is the article on Jake "UW tight end catches on to playing with diabetes" by Jeff Potrykus of Journal Sentinel Online. Sometimes the links disappear , hence here is the full extent of the article thanks to Jeff Potrykus of JSonline.com.

Madison --As he prepared for his junior year of high school in Rogers, Ark., Jake Byrne knew his body was short-circuiting.

He just didn't know why.

"I lost about 30 pounds and couldn't figure it out," Byrne, now a junior tight end at Wisconsin, said after a recent practice.

Byrne was a 245-pound offensive tackle as a high school sophomore. His weight dropped to 215 pounds during the summer before his junior season, so he was moved to wide receiver.

"At first, I thought it was a bladder infection," Byrne said. "I had to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes."

Doctors eventually diagnosed Byrne with type 1 diabetes. Byrne's pancreas wasn't producing enough insulin to control his blood sugar level.

"I was dehydrated because of all the sugar," he said, "and I was thirsty and drinking Powerade, which has sugar."

According to Powerade, the drink has 14 grams of sugar and 0 grams of protein in every eight-ounce serving. Byrne, like many of his high school teammates, drank a lot of the sports drink.

Today, Byrne is working to replace the departed Garrett Graham at tight end with UW's No. 1 offense and take pressure off senior H-back Lance Kendricks.

"I feel I can be the guy who can go in there and help Lance out," Byrne said. "I think we can complement each other."

Byrne is listed at 6 foot 4, 251 pounds, but his weight is up to 256 pounds. The latter figure is an increase of 11 pounds from last season.

He improved his eating habits over the off-season and was more productive in the weight room.

"I just sat down and thought about all the things that have affected me," Byrne said. "So I tried to get a healthier diet with more protein and more complex carbs.

"I changed my diet and worked hard in the weight room to become stronger."

His old diet included standard American fare.

"I was always a huge fan of cheeseburgers and french fries," he said, smiling. "There is a place on State St. called the Fat Sandwich Company. Love it.

"But I try to cut those things out and do more grilled chicken breast and vegetables. Trying to cook for myself was a little challenging, but once I got the hang of it, I felt better.

"So it was definitely worth it."

Tight ends coach Joe Rudolph challenged all the players in his unit to hit the 400-pound mark on the bench press and the 500-pound mark in the squat.

Byrne hit 385 on the bench and 505 on the squat. His previous high marks had been 350 and 435, respectively.

"His confidence level is much, much higher, and that allows you to play faster," Rudolph said. "I think he has gotten stronger physically. He is a physical player, a good football player."

Byrne has a constant companion during practice and games - an insulin pump taped onto his back and covered by protective padding.

"We custom-made a back plate and stuck it in there," said Byrne, who likened the pump to being hooked up to an IV. "I take insulin any time I eat anything with sugar.

"I check my blood sugar - during a regular day with no practice probably six times - and with practice it could be 10 or 12 times. It's just kind of how I feel."

Rudolph, who was a graduate assistant at Ohio State and the tight ends coach at Nebraska before coming to UW in 2008, has experience coaching players with diabetes.

"Our medical staff has done a great job with Jake, and he has done a great job learning how to handle everything," Rudolph said. "You just coach him, and you trust they'll let you know when they're not feeling right.

"He has got a pretty good feel about his (condition), and he's pretty honest with the medical staff."

 I had spoken out on earlier occasion when our Lord's naked body was rendered in a chocolate art form and I will continue to speak. This has nothing to do about being left or right, everything to do with what is right and wrong, distinguishing between what is sacred and mundane, respecting God and respecting the body of Christ which is called Corpus Christi.

In the movie trailor addressing those who object to the movie, someone says, "You hate what you don't understand: You hate what you are not willing to look at. I am trying to understand you, why can't you @!# understand me"

We have gone beyond understanding, but when you drag God and my faith into mud that's where we have a problem. If you want to make money, there are any number of ways, but don't in the name of God or my faith. Respect is give and take.

When you ridiculed the traditional marriage
and floated your lifestyle, we tolerated it

When you contested your civil rights
as being part of the civil discourse, we tolerated it.

When you inundated the minds of our children
in public schools we resisted it

St. Paul speaks of the Body of Christ:

4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.(Ephesians4:4-16)

Someone said that radical Christianity is a form of fundamentalism and likened it to fundamental Islam. Even if so, radical Christianity is a call to fidelity--fidelity to faith and morals. To love the Lord and neighbor, why, even love one's enemies is what we are called to follow radically. Jesus lived and died and rose for this very same principle. No greater love hath a man than to lay down his life for his friends. We need to be proud of this deep faith in the son of God who loved us and gave himself for us. He did not ask us to kill anyone in God's name, for Christians to be likened to some of the fundamentalists in Islam. But if we loved God radically, our society would not allow for such nonsense--to say no to such aberrations.

While speaking of the Chocolate Jesus I wrote and holds true for this movie too: Our message is simple. Whatever type of artist one may be, there is no license to offend the religious sense of the people. If it does, it should be abhorred. If one still wants to express anything and everything, we as Christians have the freedom to defend what is sacred to us. As for the chocolate rendition, it's an abomination for God to be caricatured in such an art form. For a true Christian, Easter is about Christ crucified and risen. For the secular, Easter is about chocolate. It's an unholy alliance.

Should someone think this is an overreaction on the part of Christians, then I would say try ridiculing others' faith and then you will know the truth and see the difference. You will see how tolerant Christians have been, during the tirade of mockery that has been unleashed on us under the name of freedom of expression.

The question Why Me has been asked by so many in the Holy Bible. When God calls someone there is always a why, a resistance or objection in terms of deficiency on the part of the one who is being called.

Call of Gideon: (Judges 6:11-13)
Angel:The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour [a force; virtue, strength: power, worthy].
Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

Call of Jeremiah: (Jeremiah 1:1-7)

When God called Jeremiah, he said: "I do not how to speak" and "I am only a child" God responded with His presence "I am with you"."and a command "say whatever I command you" Though he was still young Jeremiah would rely on the knowledge of God and His will (Jer9:23-24)

Call of Isaiah: (Isaiah 6:1-6)

Call of Samuel: "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:9) together with  "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God."(Hebrew 10:7) is the best response when the Good Lord wants us to do what He wills. And ast St.James says, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."(James 4:10)

Time also is measured in terms of chronos, the chronological times and chiros the chirological one, the momentousness of time > Or as someone put it, 'Chronos is counted in minutes and seconds- human time and Chiros is counted in value and quality- God's time'
Every chronos can be turned into chiros when we fully live the Christian calling and invest in the kingdom to come, where no thieves break in and no moth shall destroy.

The possibility of converting a chronos into chiros is available in the liturgical year, when we come to acknowledge and mark the milestones of salvation along the course of human calendar in the Liturgical year. Its fitting that we keep the times as Anno Domini, Year of our Lord. During every Liturgical year as in Calendar years, the church offers times of grace that we can access, the mercy of God we can bask in and the strength to carry on and mature as a child of God. Though we were not there two thousand years ago, all the salvific blessings can be ours if we enter in faith. The Lord provides us the same through the action of the Holy Spirit.

Speaking of times, and end times, people have been talking about end times and wonder if 2012 would be the end. What is certain is the Second Coming.

When there was so much hype about the end of the world, prophesy etc, our focus is to remain faithful to the Lord and live a life that is worthy of our Christian calling, that when He does come, we will not be surprised or shocked.

So long as we have the eternal perspective we will not be mislead or disoriented: There is a simple prayer that makes this very conscious at all times: "I come from God, I belong to God and I go back to God" Everything done, thought and said in terms of this axiom is just fine.

That also addresses the parting from this world, when death the inevitable must happen. It is a faithful life to the Gospel that transcends all the aspects of life, that matters. Death will not be the end but the beginning."For thy faithful O Lord, life is not ended but changed."

It is in this eternal perspective, we want all of us to continue living our lives to the fullest in Worshipping and serving Him and to be one day with Him in heaven!

As we are almost close to the end of the AtoZ Blog Challenge, want to share this thought on our eternal and everlasting perspective which should drive our efforts, thoughts and actions. Here is the hymn asking the Lord to "Abide with me"

Worshipping the Lord in the beauty of Holiness is heaven on earth. The Book of Common Prayer serves as a guideline for the Anglican method of worship. Kudos to the Reformation that it placed the Scriptures in the hands of the Commoner.  And so was the praying of the Breviary, once a privilege of the Clergy passed on to all. Thus was born the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. Did you know that most of it is from Scripture including the prayers adapted from the Scripture? Here are the opening sentences from the Morning Prayer:  THE LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. Hab. ii. 20.

O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth stand in awe of him. Psalm xcvi. 9.


Worship is God Centered - Not Choir centered nor the Preacher or Pastor Centered: The role of the priest is to lead the people in worshipping the Lord and he does not become the center of attention nor attraction and hence the 'ad orientum' facing the east during the Mass. In the Anglican Worship, the Choir has its place in the Choir loft away from the Sanctuary, the Clergy have their place in as much as enabling worship, the faithful stand to praise, sit to listen and kneel to pray. There is order in the prayers of the Mass. The Mass is celebrated with Angels and Archangels and in the company of saints chanting the praises of God: "Holy Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts..." This is the prayer that we will pray eternally forever once we cross over into eternal life.

As every worship should be there is moment of penitence and hence seeking Divine forgiveness, there is a moment of praise and adoration, there is a moment of intercession or asking and a moment of thanksgiving to the Lord. Anglo-Catholicism has continued the worship every Sunday in the Church with the community of believers. Upon my visit to the Canterbury Cathedral a phrase caught my attention: God has been worshipped here for fourteen centuries."

There is beauty, there is grandeur there is diginity and decorum,and it done "Decently and in Order", lifting up the souls in the presence of the Lord. There is reverance in the language used to the eternal God as thou and thee.  The service is orderly in order to focus on God and avoid distraction.

There is incense offered to the Lord signifying the raising of our prayers up to the Lord: Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense; and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Psalm cxli. 2.

The Preaching of the Gospel or the Sermon is modelled after this prayer: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be alway acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm xix. 14, 15.

There is Absolution (releasing the sinner and offering God's pardon): ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The faithful are fed with the precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ given for you: preserve your body  and soul unto everlasting life; Take and eat in remembrance that Christ died for thee and feed on him in thy heart by faith and thanksgiving. The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ shed for thee preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life..

Its a coporate worship reminding us of the words of St. John Chrysostom : ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests; Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

It is prayer of thanksgiving: ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us who have duly received these holy mysteries with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of his most precious death and passion. And we most humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Try one of our services All worship to the greater Glory of God. This is how for centuries the church has worshipped the Lord in the beauty of holiness: O come let us adore him!

Some time ago, one of my evangelical friends said, "you catholics continue to crucify the Lord time and time again in your Mass." The Mass is the memorial, remembrance of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross who died once and for all. Here, we are only limiting ourselves to the context of the Eucharistic sacrifice or the Mass as a memorial of the sacrifice of our Lord.

When we speak of the Holy Eucharist as a sacrifice, we do not understand any repetition of the Sacrifice of the cross, or any renewal of Christ's sufferings or death. His sufferings and His death took place once for all, and can never be repeated. Neither are we to suppose that anything is wanting in His sufferings or Sacrifice, which the Eucharistic Sacrifice supplies. But we mean that in the Holy Eucharist we plead before God the One Sacrifice offered once upon the cross, even as Christ Himself presents the same Offering in Heaven. Thus the Fathers spoke of the Holy Eucharist as "the unbloody sacrifice," The Eucharistic Sacrifice is not so much on a line with the Sacrifice on Calvary, as with the pleading of that Sacrifice in heaven.Our Blessed Lord's Sacrifice upon the cross is " a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world,"-not only for birth-sin, but for all actual sin. "The Sacrifice of the Mass" must be distinguished from "the sacrifices of Masses" (Staley 251,52)

The early church's worship included: listening to God's Word and Apostles teaching and the Breaking of Bread (Acts2,20). Through the sacred tradition of the church, the worship assumed greater significance in commemoration of the singular sacrifice of Christ on the Cross as it liturgicaly evolved. The priests, wearing the vestments, was an imitation of the Old Testament priesthood while appoaching the Holy of Holies. They also signify the passion of Christ.

Another evangelical friend asked about the dresses that I wore during the Mass and what they meant.

The priest puts on the Eucharistic vestments - symbolic of the singular sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, now being remembered in an unbloody manner. These vestments are basically similar to the street clothing which was worn at the time of our Lord‟s incarnate life. The apostles used their best clothing when they led in the celebration of the Holy Communion. When styles of street clothing changed, the clothing worn for the Eucharist remained the same, and has remained basically the same throughout the centuries. Thus the celebrant at the Eucharist now, who is acting at the command of Christ, is clothed in the same way, as a reminder that the real celebrant (Jesus) is no human being, but our Lord himself. As the priest vests he prays for himself and for all the people that they may worthily celebrate these Holy Mysteries.

THE FIRST VESTMENT is the Amice:a white napkin that reminds the priest of our Lord's Crown of thorns:

Vesting Prayer: "Place, O Lord, on my head the helmet of salvation, that so I may resist the assaults of the devil."
The priest then secures it by wrapping the strings around his torso and tying them mid-waist.

THE SECOND VESTMENT is the alb which was the basic garment in the Palestine of our Lord's Day. This is the "coat" referred to when our Lord says, "If a man ask of thee thy cloak give him thy coat also." It represents the robe of mockery which was put on our Lord before his crucifixion. Being of white linen, it symbolizes innocence, chastity, purity, joy of those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Savior.

Vesting Prayer "Make me white, O Lord, and cleanse my heart; that being made white the Blood of the Lamb I may deserve an eternal reward." Symbolizes purity of mind, heart and body. It goes over the amice.

THE THIRD VESTMENT is the cincture with which the alb is girded. It holds the stole in place and represents the rope with which Christ was bound to the pillar during flagellation. It symbolizes chastity, temperance, and self-restraint.

Vesting Prayer: "Gird me, O Lord, with the cincture of purity, and quench in my heart the fire of concupiscence, that the virtue of continence and chastity may abide in me."

THE FOURTH VESTMENT is the MANIPLE - the chains that bound the Lord to the pillar during scourging Vesting Prayer: "May I deserve, O Lord, to bear the maniple of weeping and sorrow in order that I may joyfully reap the reward of my labors."

THE FIFTH VESTMENT is the stole, or scarf, which today symbolizes the yoke of Christ and the office and work of the priest - symbolic of our Lord's Cross.

Vesting Prayer: "Restore to me, O Lord, the state of immortality which I lost through the sin of my first parents and, although unworthy to approach Thy sacred Mysteries, may I deserve nevertheless eternal joy."

THE FINAL VESTMENT is the chasuble (which the priest normally puts on after the sermon). Originally, it was an outer coat issued to Roman soldiers in cold weather. It represents our Lord‟s coat without seams for which soldiers at the cross casts lots and the purple cloak Pilate ordered placed on Christ as King of the Jews. It represents protection and charity from St. Paul's injunction "Above all things put on charity."
Vesting Prayer: "O Lord, who hast said, 'My yoke is sweet and my burden light' grant that I may so carry it as to merit Thy grace."

V is for Vestry: the local administrative body that takes care of the needs of the local church.

The Vestry is known in law by the title of "The Rector, Churchwardens, - and Vestrymen." Together they form a corporate body in civil law, when duly incorporated by the State, and posess the usual powers to take and hold real estate, to manage all the property and temporalities of the body, to have succession, and the other powers attendant upon the formation of a corporation aggregate.

"These are to control and regulate the expenditure of the Parish funds, to decide as to altering or enlarging the parochial Churches or Chapels, and as to adding to or disposing of the' goods and ornaments.' The Vestry also elect -some of the parochial officers, either wholly or in part, and has, either directly or indirectly, a superintending authority in all the weightier matters of the Parish. (Baum, Henry Mason,The rights and duties of rectors, churchwarden and Vestrymen Philadelphia 1879).

Here speaking of the duties of the churchwarden or senior warden, Baum further addresses: " The active duties of the office are" chiefly those of providing necessaries for Divine Service, maintaining order during its performance, keeping the Church and its accessories in proper condition, and taking charge of the benefice during vacancies.

The Duties of Churchwardens.

 1. To provide for the Churches of which they have the care, a Prayer book and Bible of suitable size at the expense of the Parish.
 2. To make the collections which are usual in the Parishes.
 3. To provide, at the expense of the Congregation,a sufficient quantity of fine white bread,and good, wholesome wine, for the celebration of the Lord's Supper.
 4. To provide a proper book, at the charge of the Parish, in which shall be written by the Rector, or, in case of vacancy, by one of the Wardens, the name of every person baptized, married,and buried in the Church, and the time when such baptism, marriage, and burial took place.
 5. To present to the Bishop of the Diocese,or, if there is no Bishop, to the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Church in the State, every Priest and Deacon residing in the Parish to which they belong, who has voluntarily relinquished his sacerdotal office, and uses such employments as belong to laymen.
 6. To take care that the Church of which they have the charge be kept in good repair, well glazed,and free from dirt and dust, as becomes the house of God; that the Churchyard be decently fenced, and to cause that order be preserved during service.                                                                                                                                                        7. To diligently see that the parishioners resort to Church on Sundays, and there continue tne whole time of Divine Service; and to gently admonish them when they are negligent.
 8. To prevent any idle persons continuing in the Churchyard or Forch during Divine Service, by causing them either to enter the Church or depart,and to prohibit the sale of anything in the yard.
 9. To give an account to the corporation of the Church, if it has no treasurer, at the expiration of each year, of the money they have received,and what they have expended in repairs, etc. ; and. when they go out of office to give a fair account of all their money transactions relative to the Church, and deliver up to their successors the Church property in their possession. (279-80)

V is for via media: the midway between protestantism and catholicism- the Roman additions and Protestant subtractions to the faith once delivered unto the saints. Reformation questioned the Roman excesses or additions and in the process protestantism was born. They began to abhore anything catholic, throwing the sacramental worship  as if throwing the baby with bathwater. In truth the word catholic according to St. Vincent of Larins "that which is accepted everywhere and by all" what else could be other than Christ the word incarnate and the salvation He offers. While evangelicals sought the authority from the Scriptures and Roman catholics in the magisterium and tradition along with scripture, Anglicanism rests on the three legged stool of Scripture, Tradition and Reasoning. Anglicanism is able to embrace the strength of God's word which the evangelicals have nurtured so far and the worshipping God in the beauty of holiness that the catholic tradition has offered over the centuries. Anglicanism is able to embrace both and draw strength from both in continuing on the Great Commission of our Blessed Lord until His second Coming. Check us out