The Rt. Rev. John Guernsey
Diocese of the Holy Spirit
Anglican Church in North America

Why am I an Anglican? Let me count the ways!

Because it’s the Church in which I met Jesus. Through the witness of Christian parents, I came to know that I needed a Savior and to put my trust in Him.

Because we’re a biblical Church. We have a bedrock commitment to the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God, knowing that the Bible contains all things necessary to salvation.

Because we’re a sacramental Church. We know that the grace of God is conveyed through the Sacraments as they strengthen and build up our faith.

Because we’re a Spirit-filled Church. We depend daily on the Holy Spirit who is the Lord, the Giver of Life. It is in His power that we are able to serve others.

Because we’re a liturgical Church. As a boy, I was formed in the faith through the Book of Common Prayer, as it conveyed profound theological truth through the beauty and power of its prayers and praises.

Because it’s the Church of Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer, martyred during the English Reformation. Our forebears in the faith were willing to sacrifice all for the sake of Christ and the truth of God’s Word.

Because it’s the Church of John Stott and J.I. Packer. The entire Christian world owes much to these contemporary theological giants of Anglicanism.

Because it’s the Church of Archbishop Janani Luwum. Modern day martyr, the Archbishop of Uganda was executed by Idi Amin as he stood for justice in the face of tyranny and the threat of radical Islam.

Because it’s the Church of Archbishops Peter Akinola and Henry Orombi. These men are visionary leaders of extraordinary courage, who have taught us so much about standing for Jesus.

Because it’s the Church of persecuted Christians in Sudan and Northern Nigeria. They inspire us and through their sacrificial witness the Lord calls us to hold fast to the Gospel under increasing pressure in our culture.

Because it’s a Church committed to mission and church planting. Archbishop Duncan’s call to plant 1,000 churches in the next five years has spurred us on to recapture our Anglican passion for mission.

Because it’s an historic church. We treasure the Apostolic teaching and ministry which has been handed down to us.

Because it’s a contemporary church. Our Church is able to present the timeless truths of the Gospel in fresh ways in new contexts.

Because it’s a Church with a heart for the poor. The Global South has shown us that most of the Anglicans in the world are themselves poor. Anglicanism’s understanding of the Incarnation, God becoming flesh in Jesus Christ, causes us to share the Good News—and our lives—with those in need.

Because it’s a Church that knows the power of prayer. Intimacy with Jesus in prayer is at the center of who we are. Seeing the Lord move in answer to believing prayer is at the core of our mission.

Because it is a Church committed to reaching North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. Jesus changes us and we are blessed to be part of a Church that wants to be an instrument of Jesus’ transformation of the broken, the suffering and the lost.

The Apostle Paul said that we are “servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1). The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25) exhorts each of us as stewards to invest what the Lord has given us for the growth of His Kingdom. We have received our Anglican heritage not for mere preservation, like the wicked servant’s hiding of his master’s money in the ground, but that we might use everything we have to see the Kingdom grow. Let’s go forth as faithful Anglican servants who freely share the Good News of Christ, that a world that needs Him so much may come know Him as Savior and Lord.

Gathering to Celebrate South Sudan’s Independence

Samuel Makuach invites us all to a gathering to celebrate the world’s newest nation of South Sudan on Sunday, July 31st at the Worship Center, from 2pm on. Please invite a friend as this celebration is open to all!

Dear Christ the King Family -

This Saturday is our first Christian Musician Music Jam at Christ the King!
JULY 16, 2011 from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm

More details below.
Thanks!
Fr. Jack
====

CHRISTIAN MUSICIAN MUSIC JAM What is a CHRISTIAN MUSICIAN MUSIC JAM? This will be a monthly event where any Christian musician who plays an acoustic (non-electric) musical instrument can come together with other Christian musicians – to play and share Christian songs. It will be a good time of sharing old, new, traditional or contemporary Christian songs. All styles of Christian music are welcome…. - Old Traditional Hymns – Modern Contemporary - Country / Folk – Gospel - A song you wrote yourself! Each person who wishes to participate will have a turn to share their songs in a format where each person takes one turn, and then it moves on to the next person – going around the group continuously in this fashion. Each musician can either do an instrumental solo, or play and sing a song. Other participants are encouraged to play along with them or sing harmony. Depending on how large the group is will determine how many opportunities each player has to share a song. If the group gets too large, we can split into two separate groups. There will be no microphones or speakers available, and no rehearsals. It is very helpful if each participant is encouraging to other players, especially the shy or less experienced ones. This is an excellent venue where shy people can learn to come out of their shell through music! Any acoustic instrument is welcome…guitar, banjo, fiddle, violin, dulcimer, mandolin, ukulele, tambourine, bass, etc… All who are in attendance are asked to be respectful of the musicians. This will be an ego free environment, where all musicians can have fun! Plan on attending the first Christian Musician Music Jam! JULY 16, 2011 from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm! *Any musician who brings children, please bring someone who will supervise them. We would hate to have any instruments damaged or child hurt.

Dear Christ the King Family-

Christ the King is now a part of Meijer Community Rewards! If you are a Meijer shopper, Christ the King will receive a percentage of your purchases if you register with our church’s code number. Details are below.

Special thanks to Marilyn Maloney for getting Christ the King registered and approved for this!

Father Jack
–

CTK’s Meijer Code Number is 169719. The promotional materials we received from Meijer state that we should encourage our members to join in one of three ways: 1. Join in the store with the Meijer Credit Card. Supporters can join in the store when they apply for a Meijer Credit Card. If they are approved for instant credit, they can earn rewards that same day! They may also apply online at www.Meijer.com/creditcard. (They will still have to know our CTK code number.) If they already have a Meijer Credit card, they can join simply by calling 1-800-962-7011. 2. Join on the Internet to receive a Meijer 1 Card and keytags. Supporters can join online and received a Meijer 1 Card and keytags within two weeks. (The Meijer 1 Card is the store’s customer card and not a credit or debit card.) 3. Join by mail. Supporters can join by completing and mailing the Meijer application form. They will receive their Meijer 1 Card in approximately three weeks. Application forms are available on our Welcome Table at Christ the King Anglican Church. For more information, people may visit www.Meijer.com/rewards. Blessings, and Thank You, Marilyn

“The worship God is seeking relies completely on His initiative, knowing that the only true expression of worship is through the abandonment of all our agendas for His, as we trust in His sovereign power and unlimited grace. It is from this heart posture that true liturgy flows, that music and arts find their highest calling and that the light of a worshipping community shines as a beacon of hope to a suffering and searching world.”
- David Ruis

.: ALL CHURCH PICNIC – Sun., August 7th (following worship) :.
Tim & Yvonne Lantz have again graciously opened their home to our church family for an all church picnic. We have planned for Sunday, August 7th following worship. We’ll have a potluck meal together with opportunities for kids and grandkids to play outside by Lake Geneva in DeWitt (please pray for great weather!). More details to come.

Dear Christ the King family-

We need volunteers for the month of July!

July 3rd: readers for Old and New Testaments, Prayers of the People, Coffee Hour
July 10th: reader for New Testament, Prayers of the People, Coffee Hour
July 17th: Prayers of the People and Coffee Hour
July 24th & 31st: all positions open except for Chalice Bearer

Please get in touch with Deb Ingraham if you can help out!

Thanks so much,
Father Jack

Learning to Rest Well

By Father Jack Lumanog, Rector

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV) – “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

As we are in the spring and heading into summer, this calendar season is a good reminder for me that I’m still learning to rest well. Resting does not come naturally for me. This sounds weird, but I’m working at resting well!

God intended for us to enter into Sabbath rest. Here’s a great thought from author and pastor Dr. Wayne Cordeiro:

“God gives us rest, but sometimes we can’t seem to accept such an extravagant gift. We somehow imagine that the world won’t be able to go on without our involvement. There’s too much to do. Yet God says: ‘You shall do no work at all…It is to be a Sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls’ (Leviticus 23:31-32)” (Leading on Empty).

Dr. Cordeiro goes on to say “Humble your souls? What does that mean? … So even in the midst of the work, we have to cease and rest. Why? Do you mean to tell me I’m not indispensible? This may be a really rude awakening, but the fact is, the world will go on even if you are not involved for a day.” That’s humbling for my soul, indeed.

With spring and summer forcing a change in our family schedule with school being out, it’s a great reminder to be rested and re-created with those whom I love and those who love me. And, I hope it’s an opportunity for you to do the same.

Resting well is holy work. If you’re like me and you need directions on how to do this, take this great step-by-step advice by Pastor Eugene Cho:

· Breathe.

· Pray.

· Be reminded of your love for your family.

· Be reminded of God’s love for me.

· Breathe some more.

· Pray.

Jesus modeled for us this pattern of ministry and rest and we would do well to follow His example (like everything else in our lives – following Jesus is always a good default setting!). “As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer (Luke 5:16/The Message).”

I ask for your prayers for me and my family as we rest and are re-created in the Lord’s presence. I pray for you and your summer – that this holy work would be a great opportunity for the Lord to move in our individual lives and corporately as a church!

Even with the intensely busy ministry season with Holy Week, Eastertide, Discipleship Group, Adult Bible Study and Graduate Sunday just behind us, let’s not miss out on God’s renewing presence amid the good activity at Christ the King!

Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at Christ the King. (And, if you’re out of town on vacation, that’s OK, I totally understand!)

For Christ and His Kingdom,

Fr. Jack

(great blog post via Ron Edmonson)

Here are some of the best wisdom, lessons and principles I’ve received from life. I’m not saying I live by these always, just that I’ve lived long enough to know they are true. I’d love for this to be a continuing dialogue, so please read mine and add your own.

Above all else guard your heart, for it is the well spring of life. – Proverbs 4:23, Eventually it all boils down to the heart of the matter.

God cares more about our character than He does many of the individual decisions we make, but if we are not careful we will spend more of our prayer time focusing on those decisions. – Being a good father is more important than buying the best house in town.

You’ve got to know when to fold them; know when to walk away; and know when to run. – There are times to fight and times you know you can’t win and times when you shouldn’t be fighting anyway. Learning the difference is huge.

If you can’t say nothin’ nice, don’t say nothin’ at all. - Thumper knew a truth that Scripture plays out too. There are times when we need to “shut up” and say (or email) nothing.

Once it is said, it’s much harder to take back. - Thumper didn’t say this one, but maybe the warning should have come after it, because we usually don’t listen to the first suggestion.

It takes time to mend a broken heart. – As believers we don’t grieve like a world without hope, but we still hurt. Healing wounds take time, prayer, and truth. Some marriages need to know this principle.

Letting people get credit for something I did is okay if the organization is moving forward. - In the end, if I’m leading, I’ll get all the credit I deserve and more.

Jesus came full of grace AND truth. - We tend to err in one direction or the other.

More of the same will not produce change. - You can’t keep doing the same things and expect to get different results.

Sometimes the greatest fear we have is the greatest opportunity God has to use us for His glory. - God seems to always call us to that which seems bigger than we are. That causes us to rely on Him more.

God is faithful; you can trust Him. - This one comes with test after test, but He has proven Himself every time.

We tend to end in the direction we are headed. – We shouldn’t be surprised if we end up in a bad situation, if that’s the direction we were aiming our life.

You get more bees with honey than vinegar. – Being nice to people usually gets better results than beating them into submission. (Bible truth: It’s the kindness of God that leads to repentance.

People are different from me. – I tend to want people to respond to life and me as I respond to life and others. They don’t.

Every life experience can be used of God for something that gives God glory. – Everything! Maybe even reading this post!

Now share yours!

What have you learned in life…or what did your Momma…or Thumper…teach you?

Christian Music Jam – July 16, 2011
at Christ the King Anglican Church
1161 East Clark Road, Suite 230
DeWitt, MI 48820

CHRISTIAN MUSICIAN MUSIC JAM What is a CHRISTIAN MUSICIAN MUSIC JAM? This will be a monthly event where any Christian musician who plays an acoustic (non-electric) musical instrument can come together with other Christian musicians – to play and share Christian songs. It will be a good time of sharing old, new, traditional or contemporary Christian songs. All styles of Christian music are welcome…. - Old Traditional Hymns – Modern Contemporary - Country / Folk – Gospel - A song you wrote yourself! Each person who wishes to participate will have a turn to share their songs in a format where each person takes one turn, and then it moves on to the next person – going around the group continuously in this fashion. Each musician can either do an instrumental solo, or play and sing a song. Other participants are encouraged to play along with them or sing harmony. Depending on how large the group is will determine how many opportunities each player has to share a song. If the group gets too large, we can split into two separate groups. There will be no microphones or speakers available, and no rehearsals. It is very helpful if each participant is encouraging to other players, especially the shy or less experienced ones. This is an excellent venue where shy people can learn to come out of their shell through music! Any acoustic instrument is welcome…guitar, banjo, fiddle, violin, dulcimer, mandolin, ukulele, tambourine, bass, etc… All who are in attendance are asked to be respectful of the musicians. This will be an ego free environment, where all musicians can have fun! Plan on attending the first Christian Musician Music Jam! JULY 16, 2011 from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm! *Any musician who brings children, please bring someone who will supervise them. We would hate to have any instruments damaged or child hurt.

On Sunday, June 5th in our 10am worship gathering, we will have a “Graduate Sunday” to bless all our graduating seniors. Feel free to invite all your family and friends to attend!

If you have a child who is graduating from high school or college, please contact Father Jack.

Anglican Church in North America One Allegheny Center, Suite 650 ▪ Pittsburgh, PA 15212 ▪ Ph (724) 266-9401 The Most Rev. Robert Wm. Duncan, Archbishop 23rd April, A.D. 2011 Holy Saturday The Easter Choice Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre. [Matthew 28:1] The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come see the place where he lay.” [Matthew 28:5-6] Archbishop’s Easter Homily – Easter Vigil, 23rd April, A.D.2011 “It is the difference between night and day.” How often have we used this expression? Countless times. This is a metaphor that makes great sense to humankind, because the night and the day are so different. So little, relatively speaking, is possible in the darkness, and so much is possible in the light. The difference between the “stone cold tomb” (as the Epiphany carol puts it[1]) and the empty tomb is “night and day.” The watch between Holy Saturday and Easter morn is the contrast between the darkest night and the brightest day. Before this night all human history ends in night, ends in the tomb. After this night there is the possibility of human life issuing in endless day. Easter changes everything. Jesus changes everything. Technically, of course, it is the cross that achieves what Luther called the “Great Exchange,” but the cross is the ultimate darkness, the ultimate night, in terms of human history as a dead end, where even the light of day (according to the Gospel accounts themselves) becomes dark as night. The ultimate night, Good Friday, ends in the death of Life, followed by the three days night of Jesus’ entombment. Before the dawn of Easter is mankind’s longest and darkest night. Until this night all human life ends in death. Jesus’ Resurrection makes possible to every man, woman, and child that his or her life might end with life, rather than with death. Jesus’ Resurrection also makes possible “abundant life” before death, life lived without fear of death – life fearlessly lived. It also makes possible life empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, life lived in concert with God’s purposes and God’s will, rather than in the increasing pain of aging and the gathering darkness of the dying that is the consequence of humanity’s endless rebellion. Accepting Jesus is a choice, for every individual and for whole peoples. Without Jesus day ends in night. With Jesus night ends in day. And it is not just about the way each of our stories ends, but also about the whole of our story itself. Those who follow Jesus become agents of light – by the working of the Holy Spirit and despite their sin – in the darkness of this world. Those who do not know Jesus are increasingly overtaken by the darkness brought by others or by the inevitable death overtaking their own life. These are the options, this is the choice: darkness and light, night and day. One of the Easter Vigil’s most famous stories is of the baptism of an extraordinarily gifted young man who had sought answers in all the philosophies of his age and in all the pleasures of the world. One day he heard a child singing, “Pick it up and read it.” He heard the song several times, but could not see the child. He picked up a Bible and happened to turn to Romans 13:13-14[2]. He later wrote: “My heart was flooded with light.” He would also later pray: “You have made us for yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” The date was April 24th, 387. The place Milan. The young man’s name was Augustine, arguably the greatest intellect in all of human history. For him the decision was to follow Jesus. For him the decision was to allow day to follow night. Another of the great Easter Vigil stories occurs in a savage and pagan land on the edge of the known world. On the Hill of Slane, on the night of the spring equinox, in sight of the Irish kingdom gathered around their king to celebrate their deity’s festival, a newly consecrated bishop lights an Easter fire to proclaim to an unevangelized people that true day was breaking in on their night. The evangelist’s name was Patrick. Soon a whole people, a whole nation, would choose for the day that can follow night. The year was 433. We who gather here for worship on this Easter near the beginning of the 21st century face a world of competing ideologies and pagan savageries. The choice remains one of whether night will follow day, or day will follow night. Every individual must choose and every people must decide. (If there are any here who haven’t yet chosen, it is not too late. Step from the gathering darkness of your night into blazing light of Jesus’ day.) Jesus presents the choice. His cross and empty tomb present a doorway into a very different future, the difference (and the doorway) between night and day. Our call is to live in the day, both by deed and by word. Our call is to the transformation of the world with the love and light of Jesus. We can help one another to live abundantly in the day, and we can help others to choose Jesus and the new day He offers. It is a matter of life and death, of day and night. We here know the tomb is empty. We know what is possible in Jesus. In thanksgiving for what Jesus has done for us, let us be agents of the same Easter choice for others. We know that day does follow night for those who make the Easter choice. Alleluia. Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia! AMEN.

From Hosanna to Hallelujah!

Father Jack Lumanog, Rector

As it always happens, I am so excited for Easter! Don’t get me wrong, I believe that Lent is a necessary time in my own spiritual formation. But, I don’t look forward to Lent like I do Easter. And, you can’t celebrate Easter without going through Lent. It makes saying the word “Alleluia!” and focus on exalting the Risen Christ all the more sweet after a Lent of prayerful introspection.

Now that we are in this season of Easter, let’s not forget that the Resurrection is God’s ultimate gift of love to mankind! When we enter this Resurrection Life, we give up our illusions of being in control of our lives. We give up living for ourselves. We continue to risk boldly – so that God may be glorified in all we do in our lives!

The grace of God is possible only through our faith in the Resurrected Christ. The power of God is available to us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. We are all being renewed – inside and out – to be more like Jesus.

As I write this, we just celebrated Palm Sunday together with 77 in our Worship Center all singing “Hosanna!” What used to be record setting Sundays for attendance when I first arrived as your Rector is now becoming the norm as we are growing together as a congregation!

People are coming to know Jesus in a personal and living way at Christ the King, God is meeting our financial needs as a congregation in a tough economy, and the Holy Spirit is indeed moving in our midst as we come together in worship. And to that, I say “Hallelujah!”

The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, gives us all new life and empowers us to give praise to our God and serve one another in Jesus’ name! “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 4:6, ESV).” And to that, I say “Hallelujah!”

And, as I look ahead on the calendar, we have a celebration of Holy Baptism coming up on May 1st for Hailey Gardner on the Second Sunday of Easter. We have so much to be thankful for and celebrate. I am thankful for you and celebrate God’s goodness to us as a congregation. With joy in my heart looking forward to Resurrection Sunday… And to that, I say “Hallelujah!”

For Christ and His Kingdom,

Fr. Jack

I love singing a lot of what is in our hymnal at Christ the King (we use “The Celebration Hymnal”). One of my favorites has to be “Immortal, invisible.” In looking up the words, I found that there are some original lyrics that just didn’t make it into the hymnal for one reason or another. Here are the lyrics given in most English hymnals:

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, thy great Name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all life thou givest—to both great and small;
In all life thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render: O help us to see
’Tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.

And now, here is the original version of last two stanzas from Hymns of Christ and the Christian Life, 1867.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of all Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.

All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,
And so let Thy glory, Almighty, impart,
Through Christ in His story, Thy Christ to the heart.

—-

Just a little interesting tidbit from the Rector!

Blessings to you,

Father Jack

(Excerpt from a writing by the Rev. Christopher Chamberlain Moore)

You cannot know the reason I am here this morning. It may be as simple as a move to your community or as complicated as a personal crisis which leads me to seek strength from God. In any case, I am here. And I will probably remain here and come back to worship with you Sunday after Sunday if you will do some things for me. Will you please …

• Smile when I walk in the door. You are my first impression, and this first impression will probably stay with me a long time.
• Help me find my place in the service. I will not find your help an intrusion. I will remember your kindness.
• Speak to me after church. I may find it hard to believe that you truly care for each other unless I first see evidence that you care for “the stranger in your midst.”
• Tell me good things about your church and your clergy. I want to believe that I have come to a place where people love each other and where they believe that they are doing something exciting and important for the Lord.
• Notice me – even if I am not a “family”. I don’t want to feel invisible just because I am unmarried, a single parent, a teenage, or an older person.
• Talk to me again the second week and the third and the fourth.
• Invite me to become part of some group. I need more than worship every Sunday. I need to know that I am accepted and affirmed by a group of people within the church who know me by my name and who care about me.

If you can find it in your heart to do these things for me, I will come back. I will worship with you and maybe become a highly involved member of your church. In so doing, I will find my own life immeasurably enriched.

-Rev. Christopher Chamberlain Moore

Holy Week is the most important week of the year for Christians.
We remember and celebrate the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—those mighty acts through which God has given us new life in Him.

PALM SUNDAY—April 17th: 10:00 AM
On Palm Sunday we will join together at 10:00am to celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem. This service re-enacts the day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem in triumph and was given the equivalent of a tickertape parade. People cut leafy branches from palm trees and waved them in celebration, so we begin with a palm-waving processional. The service also includes a powerful reading of the story of Jesus’ passion—His arrest, torture, and execution.

MAUNDY THURSDAY—April 21st: 7:00 PM
On the night before he died, Jesus gave his followers a new commandment—a new mandate (which gave this day its name Maundy)—to “love one another as I have loved you.” He showed them his love by washing his disciples’ feet. On this night, Jesus also gave his followers bread and wine as a lasting way to remember and receive
His Body and Blood.

GOOD FRIDAY—April 22nd: 7:00 PM
This disastrous day in Jesus’ life–His unfair trial and death sentence–is called “good.” Why? Because through Jesus’ death our sins were paid for and we could be brought back to God.

EASTER SUNDAY – April 24th: 10:00AM
With joy, we continue our celebration that Jesus is alive! Be sure to bring a neighbor, friend, or family member. Come celebrate God’s salvation through the
resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Christ the King Anglican Church
1161 East Clark Road #230
DeWitt, MI 48820
(at Clark Corners Shopping Center —
Clark Rd. and Old US-27)
517-455-7094
Father Jack Lumanog, Pastor
www.ChristTheKingAnglicanChurch.org

Today is March 17th — St. Patrick’s Day. But who was St. Patrick?

Saint Patrick – Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March 493. St. Patrick was a Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick taught the Irish about the concept of the Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a 3-leaved clover, using it to highlight the Christian belief of three divine persons in the one God.

As a boy of 14or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him. Patrick’s captivity lasted until he was 20, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his family.

He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years. Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.

Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick’s message.

The beautiful prayer of St. Patrick, popularly known as “St. Patrick’s Breast-Plate”, is supposed to have been composed by him in preparation for this victory over Paganism. The following is a literal translation from the old Irish text:

St. Patrick’s Breast-Plate
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today
God’s Power to guide me,
God’s Might to uphold me,
God’s Wisdom to teach me,
God’s Eye to watch over me,
God’s Ear to hear me,
God’s Word to give me speech,
God’s Hand to guide me,
God’s Way to lie before me,
God’s Shield to shelter me,
God’s Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

Jesus plus nothing equals everything–the gospel– is daily becoming for me more than a theological passion, more than a cognitive reality. It’s becoming my functional lifeline! And it’s this rediscovery of the gospel’s power that is enabling me to see that,

Because Jesus was strong for me, I am free to be weak;

Because Jesus won for me, I am free to lose;

Because Jesus was Someone, I am free to be no one;

Because Jesus was extraordinary, I am free to be ordinary;

Because Jesus succeeded for me, I am free to fail.

I came across this great article today and thought this was worth passing on!
Father Jack
—-

The Trouble (And Blessing) of Lent
David Lose
Director, Center for Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary

Let’s face it. Lent is in trouble.


Let me explain. Most of us have favorite holiday seasons. For some it’s Christmas, with the family get-togethers and presents. For others it’s the Fourth of July and summer, filled by a sense of national pride and beach vacations to boot. But each year at just about this time, it strikes me that very few of us would pick Lent, a season that seems to most of us as grim as the weather that usually attends it.

Think about it: crossing off days on the calendar until Ash Wednesday; leaving work just a little early, saying “I’ve got to get my Lenten shopping done;” advertisements on billboards and television reading “only 12 more days ’til the day of Ashes;” or little kids going to bed, asking their parents, “How much longer ’till Lent is here?” It just doesn’t happen.


The trouble with Lent, I think, is fairly clear. It’s buried right in the heart of the primary reading for Ash Wednesday, from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6: “And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Sigh) Actually, you don’t have to read the whole verse, as the brunt of the problem of Lent is in the first four words, “And when you fast….” 

And when you fast?! C’mon. Except for the occasional crash diet before summer vacation, who fasts anymore?

And there it is in a nutshell, you see, the trouble with Lent: it feels like this strange, weirdly anachronistic holiday that celebrates things we don’t value and encourages attitudes we don’t share. No wonder that each year fewer and fewer churches observe this age-old (fourth century!) tradition — it’s too old-fashioned, too “Roman,” too medieval for many contemporary Christians to handle.


So let’s face it. Lent is in trouble. I mean, even among those traditions that do honor the season, rarely is there the same kind of enthusiasm or expectancy which greets Advent. Notice we don’t sponsor Lenten Adventures for our kids; we don’t have an Adult Lenten Dinner and Party. We don’t pine to sing Lenten hymns ahead of time. Lent is in trouble.

I don’t know, maybe it’s that there are no presents at the end, and no fun and games along the way. Or maybe it’s that Lent asks us to give up things. I mean, my word, haven’t we had to sacrifice enough already to get our kids through college, to save for retirement, to put that new roof on the house, thank you very much. Why should we give up anything more for Lent?

Or maybe it’s the themes of Lent that trouble us. Penitence. Sacrifice. Contemplation. These are the words of Lent, and I, for one, have a hard time believing they were popular even with the Puritans (you remember, the folks that actually held competitions to see who could resist the greatest temptation or avoid the most pleasure) let alone now.

Lent, I’m telling ya, it’s in trouble. And so each year, as I listen to my non-Lent-observing friends knock it as “works theology” and my Lent-observing friends complain about it as a pain in the @&!, the same question inevitably demands loudly to be answered: Why Lent? I mean, who really needs it?

But you know what? Each year, whatever my feelings approaching Lent may be, the same answer comes whispering back: I do. Just maybe, I need Lent. Just maybe I need a time to focus, to get my mind off of my career, my social life, my next writing project — and a hundred other things to which I look for meaning — and center myself in Meaning itself.

Just maybe I need a time (is 40 days really enough?) to help clear my head of the distractions which any involved life in this world will necessarily bring and re-orient myself towars the Maker of all that was given for my pleasure and which I have let become merely distracting.

Maybe I need the opportunity (and perhaps deep down I crave the chance!) to clear my eyes of the glaze of indifference and apathy which comes from situation after situation where I feel nearly helpless so that I can fasten my eyes once more on the almost unbearable revelation of the God who loves God’s children enough to take the form of a man hanging on a tree.

And maybe, just maybe — and this takes the greatest amount of imagination of them all — just maybe Lent really isn’t mine to do with whatever I please. Perhaps Lent isn’t even the Church’s to insist upon or discard at will. Maybe Lent isn’t any of ours to scoff at or observe. Maybe Lent is God’s. Maybe Lent is God’s gift to a people starved for meaning, for courage, for comfort, for life.

If it is, if we can imagine that Lent is not ours at all but is wholly God’s, then maybe we’ll also begin to recall, at first vaguely but then more strongly, that we, too, are not ours at all, but are wholly God’s — God’s own possession and treasure.

Seen this way, Lent reminds us of whose we are. The “sacrifices,” the disciplines, these are not intended as good works offered by us to God; rather, they are God’s gifts to us to remind us who we are, God’s adopted daughters and sons, God’s treasure, so priceless that God was willing to go to any length — or, more appropriately, to any depth — to tell us that we are loved, that we have value, that we have purpose.

Yes. I need Lent. I need an absence of gifts so that I might acknowledge the Gift. I need a time to be quiet and still, a time to crane my neck and lift my head, straining to hear again what was promised me at Baptism: “You are mine! I love you! I am with you!”

I need Lent, finally, to remind me of who I am — God’s heir and Christ’s co-heir — so that, come Easter, I can rejoice and celebrate with all the joy, all the revelry, all the anticipation, of a true heir to the throne.

And so yes, I need Lent. And to tell you the truth, I suspect that you do, too. You see, if Lent is in trouble, it’s only because we’re in trouble, so busy trying to make or keep or save our lives that we fail to notice that God has already saved us and has already freed us to live with each other and for each other all the rest of our days. And so we have Lent, a gift of the church, the season during which God prepares us to behold God’s own great sacrifice for us, with the hope and prayer that, come Good Friday and Easter, we may be immersed once again into God’s mercy and perceive more fully God’s great love for us and all the world and in this way find the peace and hope and freedom that we so often lack.

BAPTISM SUNDAY: We will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Baptism on Sunday, May 1st, 2011. If you or someone you know is interested in being baptized, please contact Father Jack. For more information about this Sacrament and how it is practiced at Christ the King, please visit our website

Christ the King Anglican Church
1161 East Clark Road, Suite 230
DeWitt, MI 48820
517-455-7094
ChristTheKingAnglicanChurch.org

All About Lent
Father Jack Lumanog, Rector

Don’t forget that the season of Lent begins next week. Lent is a 40 day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday (March 9th). Sundays aren’t counted when we count the 40 days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. Lent begins on March 9, 2011 and ends on April 23, 2011 – which is the day before Easter. At Christ the King as in most liturgical churches, the decorations are purple, the royal color, to prepare for the King.

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for Baptism. By observing the 40 days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for 40 days.

A bit of trivia about the word “lent” – this word initially simply meant “spring” (as in German language Lenz and Dutch lente) and derives from the Germanic root for “long” because in the spring the days visibly lengthen.

And as the season of Lent is fast approaching and we have events coming up for you to connect with your CTK family:

Mardi Gras Party
Tuesday, March 8th at 6:30pm

We’ll eat a potluck dinner together, participate in a few activity stations around the Mardi Gras theme, and enjoy a King’s Cake and other goodies!

Ash Wednesday worship service
Wednesday, March 9th at 7pm

Ash Wednesday is March 9th and it is the start of the holy season of Lent. Our worship service will take place at 7 p.m. with imposition of ashes and Holy Communion.

Lenten Book Study
This year in lieu of a specifically Lenten themed book study, we’re offering the opportunity for interested folks to plug into the existing Discipleship Group, which meets on Wednesday evenings at the church. We’ve been studying and praying through the book “The Radical Disciple” by John Stott. It is a short read with wonderful concentrated truth for discussion and reflection. If interested, please see Amy for details on acquiring the book!

For Christ and His Kingdom,
Father Jack Lumanog

Dear Christ the King Family-
This Saturday is the Food Drop 2011! This is our 3rd year of participation and we’ve got an opportunity to deliver at least 20 boxes of food in Clinton County in the area of where our Worship Center is located – DeWitt, St. Johns area. If you know you are coming, please let me know so I can make sure that we can deliver the 20 boxes of food being set aside for Christ the King Anglican Church.

Praise Rally: 11am at Holt High School (see the attachments for a Frequently Asked Questions on the Food Drop as well as a family devotion packet prepared by Trinity Church – one of our partners in Church of Greater Lansing)

Please look for me at the rally for a set of maps. We’re asking that each vehicle take at least 2 food boxes. Between our volunteers, we should be able to deliver 20 food boxes in our area near to where we worship so we can invite them to Christ the King if they don’t already have a church family.

Blessings to you as we partner together to carry the transforming love of Jesus Christ to our region!

For Christ and His Kingdom,
Father Jack

Christ the King Anglican Church
Sunday Morning Bible Study: 9am-9:45am
Sunday Morning Worship: 10am
1161 East Clark Road, Suite 230
DeWitt, MI 48820
517-455-7094

The season of Lent is fast approaching and we have events coming up for you to connect with your CTK family:

Mardi Gras Party
Tuesday, March 8th
We’ll eat a potluck dinner together, participate in a few activity stations around the Mardi Gras theme, and enjoy a King’s Cake and other goodies!
If you are interested in providing a component of the meal, please contact Deb Ingraham at ingrahamd. There is a food sign-up sheet on the welcome table as well. Please mark your calendars for this fun annual event!

Ash Wednesday worship service
Wednesday, March 9th at 7pm
Ash Wednesday is March 9th and it is the start of the holy season of Lent. Our worship service will take place at 7 p.m. with imposition of ashes and Holy Communion.

Lenten Book Study
This year in lieu of a specifically Lenten themed book study, we’re offering the opportunity for interested folks to plug into the existing Discipleship Group, which meets on Wednesday evenings at the church. We’ve been studying and praying through the book “The Radical Disciple” by John Stott. It is a short read with wonderful concentrated truth for discussion and reflection. If interested, please see Amy for details on aquiring the book!

Ash Wednesday is March 9th and it is the start of the holy season of Lent. Our worship service will take place at 7 p.m. with imposition of ashes and Holy Communion.

Mike Dagle from St. Jude’s Anglican, Detroit will be preaching on Sun., Feb. 13th. Mike is originally from Southwest Detroit and has lived in Metro Detroit for most of his life. He graduated from Central Michigan University in 2004 and is pursuing a research Masters in Systematic & Philosophical Theology at the University of Nottingham in England. He is married to Angela and they have three children.

Rwandan Bishop in Flint

Bishop Augustin Ahimana of the Anglican Diocese of Kivu will be in nearby Flint. The Bishop lost his mother and other family in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Bishop Augustin has been deeply involved in the reconciliation efforts in Rwanda and he has worked with World Vision and Dr. Rick Warren on the PEACE Initiative. All are invited to a worship service on Thursday, February 24th, 6pm at Mt. Olive Baptist Church (424 E. Kennelworth Ave, Flint – parking off of 12th Street one block east of Saginaw, just south of I-69). Bishop Augustin will preach and service includes worship music and prayer ministry. A reception in the church hall follows. For more information, contact: Rev. Dave Kulchar dkulchar1 (810) 964-0432.

A Year Crowned with God’s Goodness!

Father Jack Lumanog, Rector

“You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.” Psalm 65:11 (NKJV)

Looking back on the last four years of my service as your Rector, I can clearly see the hand of God on our church family. Just as the Psalmist declared: God is graciously crowning a new year with His goodness. And as we continue to follow God’s path, we will experience His abundance.

This declaration from God’s Word was so clear to me at our Christmas Eve service. Our Worship Center was packed – many were first time visitors brought to worship by you our members and regular attenders! God was so good to bring us newcomers and we also experienced His abundance as we presented financial gifts to support the Church of Greater Lansing Food Drop 2011!

Looking ahead to a new year, I want to remind you of Archbishop William Temple, the Archbishop of Canterbury during World War II, who famously said “the Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not yet its members.” Please continue to prayerfully keep those in mind who are not yet a part of our church or the greater Body of Christ. I encourage you to continue to invite others in your life to join with us in worship at our congregation.

As a church family, let us continue to be about the Father’s business in the New Year and in the years to come!

For Christ and His Kingdom,

Fr. Jack

Where is the City – Wide Worship and Food Drop Event Hosted?

For a third year, we are partnering with other Bible-believing churches to bless those in need in our community. Thanks to your generosity, we raised $655 on Christmas Eve for the 2011 Food Drop! The next phase of this ministry is that partner churches will assemble at Holt High School on Sat., Feb. 26, 2011, from 11a.m.-5:30 p.m. for a praise rally, check presentation and food drop to the families requesting assistance. Please join us and the other churches for this rally and service project.

The goal of this project is to “be” the hands and feet of Christ to nearly 3,000 families in need throughout the Greater Lansing Area. As we deliver food boxes, we’ll offer a prayer of blessing in a gentle and respectful way and leave and invitation to visit one of the participating churches. We trust that people will see God’s love working through us and He will open up opportunities s to tell them about Christ. Let’s put our “Love in Action!” and see what God does through us this year.

The event worship rally will be held in the Holt High School Gymnasium at 5885 W. Holt Rd., Holt, MI (located between S. Waverly Hwy and Aurelius Rd.). Distribution will follow the worship rally. Please plan to arrive early as the rally begins promptly at 11:00 a.m. You may arrive as early as 10:00 a.m.

Church of Greater Lansing Project

How Can I Participate?

• There is no need to sign-up to deliver a food box, simply plan to attend the event rally held at Holt High School gymnasium at 11:00 a.m.

Who is The Church Of Greater Lansing?

• The Church of Greater Lansing is a partnership of approximately 50 Christian Churches of Ingham, Eaton and Clinton Counties.

How Should I Dress/Prepare?

• Dress warm & comfortable. Layers are best. We will start indoors prior to being outdoors for a few hours.
• Wear comfortable shoes/boots for walking.
• Be sure to eat before you come.
• Empty the trunk make room for boxes and passengers.

How Many People Are Expected to Deliver Food Boxes

• Holt High School gymnasium and common areas have the capacity to accommodate about 3,000 people. Every person is welcome and there are no restrictions on the number of volunteers a church can bring.
• First come first seated, so come early! Our goal is to send groups of at least three+ people to deliver a food box to individual homes and then pray with the families.
• For safety reasons, each car should carry two adults to make the delivery, so plan to ride with a friend.

Will Families Know We Are Delivering Food To Their Home?

• Yes, we hosted a Food Box call center and received 2400 requests for the Free Food.
• All Food Box recipients have responded to confirm their names and delivery information.
• These families know that an attender from a participating church will be hand – delivering food boxes to their homes on February 26, 2011 between 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Where Should I Park?

• Holt High School has significant parking space adjacent to the school. Parking attendants will be present to direct you as you enter the school campus.
• Please car pool with at least three people per car to keep parking and traffic flow manageable.

Will There Be Handicap Parking?

• There is limited handicap parking located in the school parking lots. Parking attendants can assist in directing you to the available handicap parking.

How Do I Get My Food Box to Delivery?

• The food box distribution directions will be reviewed in the city – wide worship rally. Following the worship rally, you will return to your car.
• Parking attendants will direct you to your parking section’s food box drive-through distribution area.
• In the distribution area, you will receive one or more food boxes and corresponding map.
• You will be directed to the nearest exit to make your delivery.

This Sunday at Christ the King is the feast of the Baptism of our Lord. Father Jack will share a message from the Gospel lesson:
Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Join us for worship at 10am this Sunday in Scripture, Sacrament and blessed for Service!

Following two decades of relentless civil war, the first democratic elections in 24 years are about to take place in Sudan. We pray for peace for the people of Sudan, especially Anglican Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul (pictured below) of the Sudan.  We also pray for our own Anglican Mission Lay Pastor Samuel Makuach who desires to minister to refugees here in Greater Lansing.

====

BACKGROUND INFORMATION (via Samaritan’s Purse):

As Sudan prepares for historic presidential and parliamentary elections, Samaritan’s Purse and church leaders in Sudan are calling on believers across the nation and around the world to pray.

More than two million people died in Sudan’s civil war before the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed five years ago. The 2005 accord ushered in an uneasy truce, tied to a promise that the people of southern Sudan would be allowed to participate in national elections in 2010 and vote in a referendum on independence in 2011.

Free and fair elections in April could help lay a foundation for lasting peace. However, if violence erupts it could start a chain reaction that plunges the nation back into civil war.

Government and church leaders in both the North and South agree that prayer is the key to maintaining peace in Sudan. Please join us in praying daily for Sudan.

PRAYER POINTS (via Samaritan’s Purse):

* As many as 300,000 people have died as a result of battles between warring factions in Darfur. Pray for the success of efforts to broker peace agreements between the Government of Sudan and rebel alliances represented by the Justice and Equality Movement, the Liberty and Justice Movement, and other armed groups.

* About 40 percent of Sudanese families do not have access to safe drinking water. Pray for well drilling and water treatment projects that are being coordinated by various relief and development agencies.

* Oil revenues account for an estimated 98 percent of southern Sudan’s non-aid income. Pray that oil production revenues will continue to help restore infrastructures that were destroyed during years of civil war.

* Hundreds of churches were destroyed during Sudan’s civil war. Pray for church rebuilding projects promoted by denominational agencies and ministries like Samaritan’s Purse, which has rebuilt 369 churches.

* Thousands of people lack adequate healthcare in Sudan. Pray for more medical facilities like Kurmuk Hospital, which serves over 220,000 people in Southern Blue Nile state.

* Vocational training and livelihoods programs are helping men and women find work and produce income for their families. Pray that more adults will receive training and tools that help them find work and start small businesses.

* Eighty percent of Sudan’s workforce is involved in agricultural production and subsistence farming. Pray for agricultural programs that provide struggling farmers with seeds, hand tools, plows, and training in crop production.

* Thousands of Sudanese children meet under shade trees for classes at local schools, without any workbooks or supplies. Pray for an expansion of school-building and educational programs in Sudan.

* Livestock exports are the second most important source of foreign revenue for Sudan, behind oil. Pray for animal husbandry programs that are helping farmers in Southern Blue Nile, North Darfur, and other areas learn how to care for livestock and produce healthier animals.

* Illiteracy among women runs as high as 84 percent in some areas of the Sudan. Pray for the growing number of international agencies that are promoting adult literacy projects for women and men throughout Sudan.

* Pray for political stability and peace in neighboring nations including Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

* Pray for ministries that are providing Bibles and New Testaments for distribution in Sudan. Samaritan’s Purse helped distribute 260,600 Scriptures in six languages, and establish 10,600 Bible reading groups. Pray that lives will be transformed through the study of God’s Word.

* Following two decades of civil war, more than 2 million landmines may still be buried in Sudan. Pray for successful de-mining efforts by government agencies and international groups working in Sudan.

* Pray that freedom of religion will be maintained as the country transitions through the 2011 referendum on independence for southern Sudan.

* International aid workers have been kidnapped and even killed in Darfur and other unstable regions where rebel groups are active. Pray for protection for workers involved in various relief and development projects throughout Sudan.

* UNICEF and the World Health Organization are vaccinating 6 million Sudanese children against polio. Pray for efforts nationwide to immunize children against polio and other crippling, but preventable childhood diseases.

Congratulations to Alec Findlay – covenant member of Christ the King, lay reader and acolyte – on his nomination to the U.S. Military Academy! Alec is one of 34 Michigan students nominated today by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow to the military service academies. God bless you, Alec!
—-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 2010 Contact: Press Office Phone: 202-224-4822 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 202-224-4822 end_of_the_skype_highlighting Senator Stabenow Nominates 34 Michigan Students to Service Academies WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) announced today that she has nominated 34 Michigan students for placement at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, M.D., the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, C.O., and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y.“I am proud that so many exceptional students from our state are willing to serve our country through military service,” said Senator Stabenow. “These individuals have demonstrated their excellence in and out of the classroom, and I am confident that they will represent Michigan well.” Students seeking appointment to a service academy must first obtain the nomination of their U.S. Senator, their U.S. Representative or the President. Students nominated by Senator Stabenow’s office went through a competitive application process that included interviews by community leaders. Now that the students have been nominated, they must await acceptance for admission by the academy to which they have applied. The following students have been nominated by Senator Stabenow to a service academy: Southeast Michigan: United States Military Academy • Joonmo Chung – Novi • Stefan Czarnecki – Huntington Woods • Jacob Hughes – Bloomfield Hills • Branch Kampe – Rochester United States Naval Academy • Sean Carrigan – Commerce Township • Stephen Huff – Saline • Ian Leszcynski – Grosse Pointe Woods • Whitney Morey – Grosse Pointe Shores • Jeffrey Menk – Ann Arbor United States Air Force Academy • James Carey – Woodhaven • Daniel Penix – Ortonville United States Merchant Marine Academy • Cameron Albrant – Northville • Victor Ottoboni – West Bloomfield Flint/Tri-Cities: United States Military Academy • Alexander Hart – Lapeer United States Naval Academy • Alex VanKirk – Freeland Mid-Michigan: United States Military Academy • Alec Findlay – Mason • Kenneth Voet II – Ionia • Jack Bontekoe – Howell United States Air Force Academy • Andrew Jones – Grand Ledge • Christopher Parsons – Fowlerville United States Merchant Marine Academy • Jamie Hay – Holt • Jarrod Bennett – Parma Western Michigan: United States Military Academy • Jackson Peebles – Schoolcraft United States Naval Academy • Jacob Featherstone – Fremont • Harrison Willoughby – Holland United States Air Force • Joshua Camiller – Jenison • Justin Schwartz – Kalamazoo • Cherie denHollander – Grand Rapids • Patrick Nink – Grand Rapids Northern Michigan: United States Military Academy • Cade Ingleson – Petoskey United States Naval Academy • Victoria Overton – Cheboygan United States Air Force • Samara Donajkowski – Hubbard Lake Upper Peninsula: United States Naval Academy • Brenna Moher – Sault Sainte Marie United States Air Force • Christian Ferrarini – Marquette — 30 —

Dear Christ the King family-

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” – James 4:4

I want to wish you a very blessed Christmas! My prayer is that you will take time this Christmas to draw close to God – and that He in turn will draw close to you!

Take time to draw near to God in this season of Christmas and into the New Year at our upcoming worship services…
Christmas Eve: Friday, Dec. 24th @ 7:30pm
(Message: “ OUR SAVIOR IS BORN! ” from Luke 2:1-20)

1st Sunday after Christmas Day: Sunday, Dec. 26th @ 10am
(Message: “ THE INCARNATION ” from John 1:1-18)

2nd Sunday after Christmas Day: Sunday, Jan. 2nd @ 10am
(Message: “ JOSEPH’S TRUST, GOD’S RELIABILITY & OUR HOPE ” from Matthew 2:13-15,19-23)

May you be wonderfully blessed and encouraged as we gather together to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

For Christ and His Kingdom,
Father Jack Lumanog
Rector

P.S. Over Christmas and New Year’s, the Church Office will be closed on these days: Dec. 23-24, Dec. 27-31 and Jan. 3. In case of emergency, please call 517-455-7094 and leave a message for Father Jack and calls will be returned as needed. Have a blessed Christmas and New Year’s!

Over Christmas and New Year’s, the Church Office will be closed on these days: Dec. 23-24, Dec. 27-31 and Jan. 3. In case of emergency, please call 517-455-7094 and leave a message for Father Jack and calls will be returned as needed. Have a blessed Christmas and New Year’s!

December 5, 2010 was CAP Sunday at Christ the King.

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a federally supported organization, chartered by the U.S. Congress that serves as the official Auxiliary of the United States Air Force.  CAP was chartered by the U.S. Congress on December 1, 1941 and the Saturday and Sunday closest to this day are designated as CAP Sabbath and CAP Sunday.

CAP performs three congressionally assigned key missions: 1: Emergency Services, which includes search and rescue (by air and ground) and disaster relief operations; 2: Aerospace Education for youth and the general public; and 3: Cadet Programs for teenage youth. In addition, CAP has recently been tasked with homeland security missions.

The CAP Chaplain Corps serves the military community by providing pastoral care through base chapel support, leading funeral details and assisting with death notifications.  The Chaplain Corps also serves CAP by providing moral leadership for our adult and teen members.

Christ the King members (Capt.) James Matthews, (Capt.) Jennifer Smith, (Ch, Major) Father Jack and (Ch, Major) Father Cecil serve our community through CAP.

For more information, visit:

http://www.cap.gov

This Sunday, Dec. 5th is the Second Sunday of Advent. Join us for worship this Sunday at 10am when Father Jack shares a message from Matthew 3:1-12 on A Christmas Revolution. The Gospel lesson is below. See you Sunday!
—-
Matthew 3:1-12 (ESV)

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” 4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Christmas Eve at Christ the King – Friday, December 24th at 7:30pm
Christmas Carols, Communion and Candlelight
You are invited to Christmas Eve at Christ the King! This is a special service where we sing all of your favorite Christmas carols (along with a few new songs), celebrate Christ’s abiding presence with us in Communion and leave under the glow of Candlelight as we go out into the world as tangible expressions of Jesus – the light of the world!

Friday, December 24th at 7:30pm

Christ the King Anglican Church

1161 East Clark Road, Suite 230

DeWitt, MI 48820

For Christ and His Kingdom,
Father Jack

“O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
- Psalm 136:26

‎”The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.” -Alice Morse Earle

I am so grateful to God for the ways that He is using our congregation to be a blessing to our community. At Thanksgiving, you gave to bless needy families through the LettsCommunity Center with a beautiful meal. At Christmas, we sponsored young people in need with gifts through Lutheran Social Services. We also had volunteers distribute free popcorn and Christmas buttons at Silver Bells in the City on behalf of Christ the King Anglican Church. I am grateful to Deb and Dan Ingraham, Betty Velat, Amy Lumanog and Deacon Steve for all their work in these outreaches to our city.

We are also moving to our third annual Church of Greater Lansing Food Drop on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 at HoltHigh School from 11am-5:30pm. For $25, we can feed a family for a month through the Mid Michigan Food Bank. We are partnering with 30 other Bible-believing churches to raise money and deliver food boxes directly to those in need. Please consider a financial gift and joining the other churches for a praise rally and service project.

Why is all this giving and service important? It’s because you are not just going to church. You are actually being the Church! Our congregation is committed to Biblical preaching and teaching. We model this with our Sunday morning Bible study, our worship gatherings and in our Discipleship Study. We are also living out Biblical preaching and teaching as we witness to Jesus’s love for the least, the lost and the lonely.

It has certainly been a busy and blessed 2010. Now, looking ahead to the New Year, January 1, 2011 will mark the start of our seventh year of ministry as Christ the King Anglican Church. January 2nd will also mark the beginning of my fifth year of ministry as your Rector.

I believe that 2011 will be a great year of ministry at our WorshipCenter and beyond as we reach out with the transforming love of Jesus Christ! I am so grateful for all of the ministry that has gone out to our church family and into our community thanks to your participation, your faithful and sacrificial giving and your prayers. God is indeed moving in our midst at Christ the King!

For Christ and His Kingdom,
Father Jack

view from the Nursery side

doors opening to the Nursery

Here are a couple of pictures of the finished project at the Worship Center!  The construction company has a few touch ups still to make on the Nursery side of the Worship Center but this project is pretty much done.

I pray that this enhancement to our Worship Center will be a blessing to our members, regular attenders and guests with small children.

For Christ and His Kingdom,
Father Jack

Checks for the $25 per family food box should be made out to Christ the King and submitted by the Christmas Eve service. Please write Church of Greater Lansing Project on the memo line.

For a third year, we are partnering other Bible-believing churches to bless those in need in our community. Our goal is to raise $75,000 to “Stomp Out Hunger” for the month of February. To do this, we need to feed 3,000 families x $25/box = $75,000. Consider buying a box for a needy family at $25/box.

All the partner churches will assemble at Holt High School on Sat., Feb. 26, 2011, from 11am-5:30pm. for a praise rally, check presentation and food drop to the families requesting assistance.

Please consider a financial gift and/or joining the other churches for this rally and service project!

For Christ and His Kingdom,
Father Jack

We pray that the improvements to our Worship Center is a blessing to our members, regular attenders and our guests with small children! Also, we have had inquiries about the construction company who completed the work for us at Christ the King. The work on the Nursery wall and doors were done by R.L. Construction (1121 May St., Lansing 48906). Contact Phil Branstetter at 517-487-3713 if you have construction needs for your home or business.

Dear Christ the King family-

See below for a Thanksgiving prayer as we individually and corporately as a congregation have much to give thanks to God for all the good things He has given to us as His children and togther as a church!

Also below is an update from Amy on our Christmas gift support for Lutheran Social Services.

My family and I will be traveling to Peoria, IL and Springfield, IL this week for Thanksgiving. We will return Saturday night and then back in on Sunday morning as we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent together! (In case of emergency, call the church office at 517-455-7094 and leave a message. All messages go to me and I will return calls as needed.)

From my family to you and yours, have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Father Jack

—-

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Dear Father God,

We gather together to give thanks and praise
For who You are and all You have done for us,
For our friends and family both near and far,
For Your mercy, grace, and forgiveness,
And most of all for the gift of salvation through
Your Son Jesus Christ.

We thank You for our country, the United States
of America, founded upon the sacrifices and
hard work of many before us. You have granted
to us this beautiful and bountiful land, filled
with the fruit of freedom, worship, and hard work.

Help us to be truly thankful for the many blessings in our lives;
Remind us to be humble in our abundance,
And guide us to live a life that is pleasing to You.

Praying in the strong Name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.

“O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
- Psalm 136:26

Happy Thanksgiving!

—-
Christmas gift support for LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES
Thanks so much to all of you who have taken a name from the Lutheran Social Services Christmas Gift envelope.
We have the names of 5 refugee young people left. If you planned to “adopt” a young person, please email me and I’ll get you a name and their Christmas “Wish List.”
Remember, just one gift from the list, unwrapped in a gift bag, with the name and number of the person on the bag.
Please email or call me with any questions.

Thanks again!
Amy
517.331.3871 (home)

amylumanog

—-

Father Jack Lumanog
Christ the King Anglican Church

– main website

– news/events blog site

517-455-7094 church office

Thanks so much to all of you who have taken a name from the Lutheran Social Services Christmas Gift envelope.

We have the names of 5 refugee young people left. If you planned to “adopt” a young person, please email me and I’ll get you a name and their Christmas “Wish List.”

Remember, just one gift from the list, unwrapped in a gift bag, with the name and number of the person on the bag.

Please e-mail or call me with any questions.

Thanks again!
Amy

Here are some pics that Deacon Steve took today on day 3 of of the Worship Center construction for the improvements on the Nursery side. The doors have arrived for both entry/exit points for the Nursery into the Nave. Thanks be to God for how things are coming together so wonderfully!

More updates later…

Father Jack

As you gather with family and friends for Thanksgiving next Thursday, here is a prayer of thanks to God for His goodness to us as His children:

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Dear Father God,

We gather together to give thanks and praise
For who You are and all You have done for us,
For our friends and family both near and far,
For Your mercy, grace, and forgiveness,
And most of all for the gift of salvation through
Your Son Jesus Christ.

We thank You for our country, the United States
of America, founded upon the sacrifices and
hard work of many before us. You have granted
to us this beautiful and bountiful land, filled
with the fruit of freedom, worship, and hard work.

Help us to be truly thankful for the many blessings in our lives;
Remind us to be humble in our abundance,
And guide us to live a life that is pleasing to You.

Praying in the strong Name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.

“O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
- Psalm 136:26

Happy Thanksgiving!

For Christ and His Kingdom,
Father Jack

More pictures from day 2 of Worship Center construction that is underway! The Nursery improvements are taking shape quite nicely with Jim and Carl hard at work.

Father Jack

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Christ the King will again participate in the Silver Bells in the City event in downtown Lansing on Friday evening, November 19. We need volunteers for our booth, which will be located in front of the Marketing Resource Group office at 225 S. Washington Square.

We will need 3-4 people there before the event (5:30p) to help set up and a crew to help with clean up. Please contact Deacon Steve if you can help so he knows how to expect:
envirospect@comcast.net
517-281-8899

Have a blessed week!
Father Jack

Construction began at 7:30am today on the Nursery improvement project at the Worship Center. An insulated wall is going up between the Nave and Nursery so that we can better serve our families with young children by providing a secure space for teaching and childcare. There will be doors with windows on both entry points to the Nursery from the Nave.

Construction is to be completed by this Sunday, Nov. 14th. More updates will be posted as I can get to it!

Father Jack

Dear Christ the King Family-
There is much to be thankful for as we wrap up 2010 and look ahead to 2011. God’s provision and blessing has been all over Christ the King and for that, we should all give God the praise!

By now, you should have received your financial pledge form for 2011. We need that back to help prepare a budget for 2011.

If you need another copy of the pledge form, see the PDF in this post and return your pledge form to us if you haven’t already done so:

Christ the King Anglican Church
PO Box 10186
Lansing, MI 48901
Att: Pledge Drive

If you have already returned your pledge for 2011, many thanks for your continued giving to the Lord’s work at Christ the King! You are helping make a difference!

For Christ and His Kingdom,
Father Jack

2011-PledgeForm.pdf

Fall 2010 Newsletter

Freely Give
from Father Jack Lumanog, Rector

Matthew 10:6-8 (NKJV) – “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

When Jesus called the Twelve, he sent them out with this commission from Matthew 10:6-8. The call was to preach the Kingdom, share the healing power of Christ, cleanse those who are in need of cleansing, raise the dead (do the impossible!) and take authority over the Evil One.

Then the command that defines the quality of our ministry: “Freely you have received, freely give.” I believe that this command from Jesus is being lived out in the life of our congregation.

Just since the spring and summer, we have been sowing into the Kingdom with me as your Pastor working with our Bishop and Network Leaders on expanding the ministry in our Heart of North America Region at a meeting in Chicago and ongoing conversations since then. I taught at the Lighthouse Network leadership retreat in May helping our pastors achieve balance in their ministries and personal lives. I went to Ft. Wayne, IN to teach a church interested in coming into the Anglican Mission about the richness of our liturgical tradition. I had the honor of preaching at the 160th anniversary of St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Stockton, CA. We freely give to the larger Anglican family by working together to preach the Kingdom.

We have seen the Anglican Mission affirm the call of God on the lives of two members in our congregation. Steve Steitz was ordained as a Deacon by Bishop Doc Loomis in May and Samuel Makuach was invested in the office of Lay Pastor by Father Allen Kannapell in October. The call of those ordained and licensed by the Anglican Mission is to freely give.

God has blessed us with resources and I saw us freely give to City Rescue Mission with partnering again with their good work through the Backpacks of Hope. Leading up to back-to-school time, our WorshipCenter was a donation point for brand new backpacks and school supplies. Some families got together for apple picking to benefit the LettsCommunity Center after school program. We have our ongoing food pantry collection point at the WorshipCenter that blesses the needy in our city. In February 2011, Christ the King will for a third year join with 44 other churches to form the Church of Greater Lansing for the citywide food drop. And, we freely give to world missions through Rwandan Blessing and by tithing to the Anglican Mission.

We opened the doors to our WorshipCenter to freely give to one of our sister churches, St. Matthew’s Anglican in Lapeer. They were at MichiganState for a youth convention and we allowed them to spend the night in our WorshipCenter as a convenience for their schedule. We had faithful volunteers working the DeWitt Ox Roast in August to freely give to our community and invite them to church.

As disciples of Jesus Christ at this time and in this place of Christ the King, we are doing great work together for the sake of the Gospel. As God continues to bless us with resources, let us continue to freely give. As God continues to send us newcomers, let us continue to welcome them and freely give. We have been blessed to freely receive – let us continue to freely give. God bless you! You are a great church!

For Christ and His Kingdom,

Father Jack

Our Christ the King family is blessed in many ways, and is thrilled to have an opportunity to bless others in our community this Christmas.

We’ll be working with Lutheran Social Services of Michigan (through our own Betty Velat, who has volunteered with them for nearly four decades) to buy Christmas presents for refugee young people without parents, who have been placed into the local foster care system.

Please check out the list on the Welcome Table and consider “adopting” a young person for whom to buy a Christmas gift.

See Amy Lumanog or Betty for specific information on wrapping/tagging, etc. Or you may call Betty with questions, at 517.321.4926.

Deadline for dropping gifts off to the Worship Center is Sunday, November 28th.

Let’s share the love of Christ this season by adding a bit of joy to someone’s Christmas!