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.

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!

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
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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
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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

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

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?