Christmas is a Season!

"It's the most wonderful time of the year." It is truly amazing, to watch people who are not particularly religious, embrace the holiday with abandon, with true religious zeal. Sure we have ways of disguising the religious content of the holiday. We can focus on Santa Clause, elves and reindeer, gifts and mistletoe, and "naughty and nice" lists. Sadly, I some times hear Christians bemoaning the materialism, and commercialization of the holiday, and trumpeting, "Jesus is the reason for the season." OK, point granted. But it is my opinion that such pontificating does not speak half as loudly as actions. The fact is, that Jesus started it all, himself being the most extravagant gift ever given, The eternal Word, made flesh. "God of God, light of light, very God of very God," embraced humanity in such lavish love as to take humanity into himself. You see, He set the precedent of extravagant generosity. He demonstrated through this act, and his ministry on earth, that the visible, material, tangible world really does matter, and that physical persons, and things can be vehicles of spiritual grace. So when I see people in the lines at department stores, racking up bills on their credit cards, spending beyond their means, part of me has to cheer. Jesus Won! He has so impacted the world with his grace, that one time of year, even those who have little or no faith in him at all, are compelled to look beyond themselves, to show their love through giving. It is grace indeed, that allows the world in all of its brokenness and blindness, one season each year, to experience first hand Christian love.

If you happen to be one of the "bemoan-ers," please lighten up. Don't let all that is wrong in the world blind you to the really good things all around you. Go ahead and celebrate the greatest gift the world has even known.



I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas day, their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how as the day had come, the belfries of all Christendom
had roll'd along th'unbroken song of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bow'd my head. "There is no peace on earth," I said,
"Foe hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead nor doth he sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth good will to men."

Till ringing, singing, on its way, the world revolv'd from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, of peace on earth good will to men!

---Henry W. Longfellow

ADVENT!

It's hard to believe, but we have come to the close of another year. Next Sunday, November 27, 2011 is the first Sunday of Advent, the season of preparation for celebrating both the Incarnation of Christ, and His long awaited return. While our society pushes ahead to Christmas (Feast of the Incarnation) the Church holds us back, reminding us that we wait. Such is the motif of our lives in Christ. While we enjoy the celebrations of God's promises fulfilled, we wait for THE coming, the promise of promises to be fulfilled. In truth, the four weeks of Advent correspond in micro, to the whole of History in macro. Waiting means preparing. The four weeks of Advent give us opportunity to prepare, to pause, reflect, and with penitent hearts, to clear out the clutter that crowds out our devotion. Thus Advent prepares us to welcome our Savior with joy and exultation, not fear or sorrow. So also, Advent forces us to face the reality that we have a definite end coming- whether the Return of Christ or our own departure from this life. From the day of our birth we have been on this journey like it or not. It is the one "given," that is universally agreed upon. But there is another "given." It is the assurance that, through Christ, His coming, or our going, need not to be a fearful prospect. It can inspire us with hope, and Joy. I know that one day I will meet my Maker, and as I have welcomed him in this present life, so He will welcome me. This is the promise of God in Christ Jesus. Won't you make room for Jesus? What are you waiting for?

Missionaries of St. John General Synod

Christ the King parish was well represented at the recent MSJ general synod. Attending along with Fr. Bob, were our delegates Ruth Betts, Mary Lemmon, together with six of the Lemmon children, and Nathan Dunlap, representing Forward in Africa. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and enrichment, as brothers and sisters from Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Texas came together at St. John the Apostle Anglican Church in Clinton Township, Michigan. A special word of thanks is given to Canon Jack Lumanog, for his presentations on church planting and growth.

Easter at Christ the King

Holy Week at Christ the King

You are invited!
Palm Sunday, April 17, @ 10:30 AM

Maundy Thursday, April 21, @ 7:00 PM

Good Friday, April 22, @ 12:15 PM

The Great Vigil, Sat. April 23, @ 8:00 PM

Easter Sunday, April 24, @ 10:30 AM

Come be a part of the greatest celebration of the Christian Year!

Parish Life

It's not just about going to church. For many people parish life means going to church on Sunday, and maybe attending special services. Certainly worship attendance is an important part, but parish life is much bigger than just "churchy" events. Christ the King is not just a place to worship, it is a community of people who share a common faith in Christ Jesus, who worship, work, and play together. We share in each others, joys and sorrows, successes and failures, triumphs and tragedies.

It's a scary thought to some people. In the modern world we have become accustomed to our privacy. We don't need some "busy-body" poking around in our lives. We want to maintain our ambiguity, controlling what other people know about us. We certainly don't want just anybody to know that our lives are anything less than perfect. However, this warm blanket of anonymity has a cost. It leaves us alone, in a seclusion and a silence that even Facebook cannot alleviate.

The beautiful thing about parish life is that you are only as alone as you want to be. Nothing is forced. Its not a support group where everybody has to "share," or where you have to participate in everything or else people think something is wrong with you. Its a community where you can belong without having to be anyone other than yourself. Everyone already knows that you are not perfect. Nobody is. We have found in Christ Jesus, real life, and peace. He welcomes us just as we are. We are learning to walk with Him, and He is teaching us to love again. You really don't have to figure it all out on your own. You can walk with us if you want to. Come on, give it a try. It'll be great.

Dispatch 2

Bishop Kwangu and his wife Mary took Fr Francis and Brother Nathan southwest across the bay and through the valleys for around 100 kilometers to the town of Geita, where Fr. Francis was to teach for two weeks at Christ the King Anglican Church in the center of the town. It has been decided that Geita will become a separate diocese in the future and the teaching fosters that goal.


Geita has many churches and few clergy. Most of the churches are led by evangelists, commissioned to lead the churches and the Sunday services. They do much more than just preach the Word; they lead the congregations; they are the pastors. Most are not formally trained but do the best they can. In the past, OFM teaching has been highly successful in such areas.


Bishop Kwangu and his wife and Brother Nathan returned to Mwanza to carry on the teaching of the evangelists back there, leaving Fr Francis in Geita.

The schedules are full, the students though not well educated are earnest and attentive. Watch for the full dispatch at A Maiden's collection

As I read through this dispatch, I was reminded of how much we take for granted-not just the "things" we have, but the opportunities available to us here in the United states, for education and training. Would that every follower of Jesus, were as thirsty for knowledge and understanding of Him and his kingdom.

Mission in Tanzania

Our very own Nathan Dunlap, arrived safely in Mwanza, Tanzania, after roughly 9,000 miles of travel. This is Br. Nathan's first trip, and Fr. Francis Wardega's last trip for the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM). The OFM is a ministry of teaching, equipping ministers both ordered and lay, for ministry in the Anglican tradition. Nathan and Fr. Francis have met with diocesan bishop, Rt. Rev. Boniface Kwangu. The Bishop's plan is for Nathan to teach in Mwanza, new students at Nyakato Bible School, teaching lesson plans starting with Course 101. Fr Francis will travel to Geita, several hours away, and teach former students, advanced lesson plans. To read the full dispatch, follow the link to the Missionaries of St. John blog site.

Missions is at the heart of what we do at Christ the King. Nathan's trip to Tanzania is an example. However, let us not forget that our very own neighborhood is our mission field. Everyone may not be able to travel 9000 miles, but thankfully most will not have to. It is our mission to share the message of God's grace in Jesus Christ, with our neighbors, friends, relatives, and new acquaintances.

If you are interested in finding out more about our great parish, or the Anglican way, I welcome your inquiry(frlemmon@gmail.com), or come and see for yourself Sunday morning at 10:30 AM. You will be glad you did.