As of Sunday, June 6, 2021, St. John’s is now back in Memorial United Methodist Church for worship. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, we haven’t been able to worship or meet in the church since March 2020. During this time, the Methodists changed their worship time in the church sanctuary to 10:00am. As a result, St. … [Read more…]
A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity (July 5) 2020 Epistle reading: Romans 8:18-23 Gospel reading: Luke 6:36-42 The Collect for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity: “O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being … [Read more…]
Spiritual Communion is the practice of desiring union with Christ in the Holy Eucharist when an individual cannot receive Holy Communion in person. Spiritual Communion is practiced in the Anglican tradition as well as in the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Methodist Churches. Spiritual Communion has been especially used by Christians in times of persecution, such … [Read more…]
Very few people in our nation and in our state attend church on a regular basis. I think probably all of us here this morning are aware of this fact. I recall reading some time back that only one out of five Virginians attends church on a regular basis. Believing Christians themselves are often not … [Read more…]
The ACC Provincial Synod and 2020 Anglican Joint Synods were held January 13-17 in Dunwoody (metro Atlanta), GA. I attended as one of 11 clerical delegates from our Diocese of the Mid-Alantic States. In addition to the Anglican Catholic Church (ACC), the other three Churches of the “G-4”—the Anglican Church in America (ACA), Anglican Province … [Read more…]
“For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Well, the great day that we’ve all been waiting and preparing for is finally here. The Feast of Christmas. The … [Read more…]
Tuesday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve: 5:00 pm Mass & Christmas Carols Wednesday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day: 9:00 am Mass
In today’s Gospel reading there is a continuation of the running debate between Jesus and the religious leaders of his day. In our passage, one of the Pharisees who was also a lawyer attempts to trick Jesus by asking which is the greatest commandment in the law. Earlier in St. Matthew’s Gospel, the chief priests … [Read more…]
Our annual Diocesan Synod was held June 13-14 in Roanoke, VA. Bill Garrett and Fr. Rob attended, representing St. John’s. Both Bill and Fr. Rob were encouraged and uplifted by the Synod, especially the open discussion held at the end of the Friday business session as well as the several small group and one-on-one discussions … [Read more…]
The beginning of the Christian walk is a commitment to a life of prayer. It is only by grace that we are able to rise above the limitations of our fallen nature and do the will of God. The grace of God comes to us chiefly through the sacraments and prayer. If we neglect the … [Read more…]
