The Hand of God, painted by Yongsung Kim ​

The Gospel lesson of Jesus walking on the water teaches us several important lessons:

• Separate for a Purpose: Jesus constrained the disciples to get into a boat, after the feeding of the five thousand, and venture to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Matthew uses the term ‘constrained’ to emphasize that the disciples were unwilling to leave the side of their Master. Jesus ordered the twelve to go for a purpose. Then he dismissed the crowds and ventured to a mountain to pray.
• Jesus was praying alone while the twelve were in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves: Jesus went up the mountain to show us the importance of prayer, that we should pray in an undistracted manner. Everything Christ did was for our sake. He had no need to pray, for he was already in perfect union with His Father in heaven. Still he went alone and prayed long into the evening, teaching us not to cease praying after a short time, and to pray especially at night, for it is quiet then. He permits the disciples to be caught in the storm, so that they might learn to endure trials bravely and that they might know His power. The boat was in the very middle of the sea so that their fear would be greater. Do you see how God allows trials for our good?
• In the fourth watch of the night: Jesus went to them walking upon the Sea, and the frightened disciples thought they saw a phantom. The night was divided into four watches for soldiers who stood guard in shifts, each watch lasting three hours. So it was sometime after the ninth hour, the darkest hour, that Jesus appeared walking on the water. “Take courage; it is I; be not afraid.” Jesus waited until the fourth watch that night to come to them. He did so to teach us not to ask for a quick solution to our trials but to endure them bravely. 
• Peter responds: Passionate Peter saw Jesus and spoke quickly without thinking. He said, “Bid me to come to unto thee on the water.” Jesus bid him to come, and Peter came down out of the boat. The church fathers teach that Jesus calmed the water under Peter’s feet to demonstrate His power. So Peter prevailed over the great danger of the sea, but was afraid of the lesser peril, the wind; such is the weakness of human nature. Though he stilled the sea beneath Peter, Jesus continued to allow the wind to blow. Peter being blown by the wind became afraid and began to sink. This was allowed so that Peter would not be puffed up, and to console the others who had not ventured into the sea. In doing this Christ showed how much greater He was than Peter.
• Jesus Stretched out His hand: "O thou of little faith, of what didst thou doubt?" Showing that the cause of Peter’s sinking was not the wind but faintheartedness, Christ did not rebuke the wind but Peter. But notice that Jesus said “thou of little faith,” rather than, thou of no faith. It was in Peter’s cry for help that he was healed of his unbelief. Peter did not doubt in everything, but in part. Those in the boat were also delivered from fear, for the wind ceased. Then recognizing Jesus by these things, they confessed His divinity. Only God walks on water, as David says in the Psalms, “In the sea are thy byways, and thy paths in many waters.”
• Discerning the trial and what is the greater danger: All this teaches us to discern the greater and the lesser dangers of the Christian life. The wind blows but has no real power to overcome us. Words, gossip, rumors, threats, conspiracies, can have very little power over the events in our lives, but do cause anxiety. While the greater power of the deep, which is unbelief, can overcome us. But the lesson here is that even the deep is in God’s power. So trials come but God is greater than any trial.​​

 The spiritual meaning:

• The boat is the earth: The waves represent a man’s life that is troubled by evil spirits; the night is ignorance. In the fourth watch of the night, that is, at the end of the ages, Christ appeared, and so he will appear. The first watch was covenant with Abraham; the second, the Law of Moses, the third, the Prophets; and the fourth, the coming of Christ. For He saved those who were drowning when he came and was with us so that we might know and worship Him as God.
• Peter’s trial of denial prefigured: This passage also shows Peter’s future denial, return, and repentance by what happened on the sea. Just as he says boldly, “I will not deny thee”, so here he says, “Bid me to come on the water.” And just as then he was permitted to deny, so now he was permitted to sink. Here the Lord gives him His hand and does not let him drown, but there, by Peter’s repentance, Christ drew him out of the abyss of denial.
• The take-away: There is nothing more important than prayer and finding a place to be alone with God, who bids us to come to Him with all our cares. We must also decide to embrace our trials and not seek a quick escape from our troubles. God is faithful, He who waited until the fourth watch will keep His eye upon us even when the wind and the waves seem so strong that they might overtake us. Discern within your trials what is the greater danger, seek God in the dark watches of the night, and trust that He will protect you from that which has the power to take your life.  

When the Holy Spirit arrived, He took the form of a rushing wind that filled the whole house and landed upon the heads of each disciple within the upper room, and then appeared in the form of fire.  It was the day of Pentecost, a Holy Day celebrated as the pouring out of God’s Holy Spirit upon the Church.
 
So why did the Father and Son send forth the Holy Spirit to indwell the members of the Church, the body of Christ?  Because it was customary that when a King ascended to His throne, He gives gifts. In this case, Jesus Christ sent the sevenfold Spirit of God to distribute to the members of His army spiritual gifts so that men might be empowered to persist in the great commission.  He commanded, “Go into all the world and make disciples of men baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” (See I Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.)
 
How should we understand this great commission? It is the completion of the Holy War begun by Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry and culminated by His death and resurrection. When I say war, I am referring to the direct way that living and speaking the gospel of Jesus Christ confronts the ideas and knowledge of the world. It is a clash of ideas that has the power to change and transform men in their thinking and understanding, and thereby it is spiritual warfare.
 
In meditating upon the verse, “How shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard” (Romans 10:14), Dallas Willard wrote the following in his book, Renovation of the Heart: “Without correct information, our ability to think has nothing to work on. Indeed, without the requisite information, we may be afraid of thinking at all, or simply incapable of thinking straight.” … “The Gospel of Jesus directly repudiates all false information about God and, therewith, about the meaning of human life; and it works to undermine the power of those ideas and images that structure life away from God. But for it to have this effect we must use our ability to think.”
 
The Holy Spirit gives godly men and women the gifts of spiritual wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing ministry, miracles, prophecy, the power to discern spirits, the ability to speak in tongues and the ability to interpret them. These gifts operate first within the ordained offices of the Apostolic ministry as Christ gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and some teachers for the equipping of the Saints for the work of ministry. But we are all called to work along side the Father as the body of Christ to transform men’s thinking to the knowledge of God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son.
 
Our commission as sons and daughters of the King is to put to good use the gift of the Holy Spirit, to live out the high call of the Kingdom in our worship and in our daily lives. 

We hope you will celebrate this important holy feast with your church family this Sunday!

​As we conclude Lent, it’s time to lift our eyes toward the cross and prepare for Holy Week. This guide is to help you prepare to walk with Jesus during the week of his crucifixion, and to participate with a deeper appreciation of these ancient traditions which the Church has practiced since the time of the Apostles.
HOLY WEEK begins on Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. First, we hear the Gospel narrative of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Then we use palm fronds and palm crosses to remind us of the palms that were waved and strewn in Jesus’ honor and of the Cross to which he was destined.

Once the procession is over, the mood changes as we hear the Passion story (the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion). The crowd that greets Jesus on Palm Sunday shouting “Hosanna” becomes the crowd shouting “Crucify him” by the end of Holy Week. Recognizing this shift leads us to ask whether our love for Jesus is just as fickle. Do we by turns applaud him and, by our behavior and thoughts, crucify him again and again?

Maundy Thursday takes its name from an altered form of mandatum est, Latin for ‘he commanded’. John’s Gospel records that Jesus washed his disciples’ feet when he ate with them for the last time and commanded them to do the same. For this reason, we have a symbolic foot washing at the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday. We also give thanks for Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper.
When the Eucharist is over, two notable things happen. First, the sacrament is taken to the Chapel, which has been specially decorated to represent the Garden of Gethsemane. Second, the altar is stripped of its furnishings, which reminds us of the way in which Christ’s tormentors stripped him of his clothes before the Crucifixion.

There will be a Vigil in the Chapel before the ‘Altar of Repose’ (so called because the sacrament reposes there). Doing this reminds us of Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he had to resolve his will to obey his father’s will and endure crucifixion and death. Believers are encouraged to spend an hour in prayer remembering Christ’s petition, “Can you not watch one hour?”

Good Friday is the most somber day of the Church’s Year and, along with the Easter celebration of the Resurrection, the most important. The most ancient way of marking Good Friday is with a service (the Solemn Liturgy) in the middle of the day when the story of Jesus’ Crucifixion is read dramatically.

The Solemn Liturgy at St. Andrew’s will begin at 5.30 p.m. After the reading of the Passion, there is the Veneration of the Cross in which participants are encouraged to come forward and kiss the feet of Christ on the cross. We will also receive communion from the reserved sacrament which has been kept from the night before.

To mark Jesus’ agony and death, there is no celebration of the Eucharist between Maundy Thursday and the Easter Vigil.

The Easter Eucharist is the most joyous and important service of the year. At St. Andrew’s, Easter Eucharist begins at 10 a.m. in the Courtyard. The Easter liturgy begins with readings on God’s ‘saving acts’ from the creation, through the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, until the time of Jesus’ victory over evil and death.

The principal symbols used in this service are light, fire and water. We will light a bonfire in the courtyard to symbolize the victory over death that is brought about by Christ’s resurrection. From this bonfire we will light the Paschal (Easter) Candle, and all the people follow the light of Christ, symbolized by the Paschal Candle, into the sanctuary.

After the congregation processes into the church, the baptismal water in the font is blessed with the Paschal Candle and all the people then renew their baptismal vows and are sprinkled with water from the font.  Then finally, the greatest feast in the church’s calendar continues with a Sung Eucharist.

As further signs of the Resurrection, there will be special music, the church will be filled with flowers, and we’ll share a celebratory brunch together after service.
​
We hope you will join us this year as we celebrate the hope of all people, the joy of our salvation, and the victory of the Resurrection!

(Sermon begins at about 18:00.) 
​QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

• Which character do you most identify with: the father, the prodigal son, the fatted calf, or the faithful son? 
• What phrases or statements stand out for you? 
• What do you think the Holy Spirit might be saying to you in this moment? If you’re not sure, pause. Sit for a few minutes in listening stillness and trust that God will instruct you.
• How do you want to respond to the Holy Spirit’s instruction?
• What emotions are you experiencing in this moment? How might they inform you?
• What would you like to say to Our Lord Jesus Christ right now?

If you enjoyed this video, we invite you to like, follow, and share it with others. We also invite you to visit St. Andrew's next Sunday. You would be most welcome.

As we begin the 4th week of Lent, it’s time to lift our eyes toward Golgatha and prepare for Holy Week. This guide is meant to help you walk with Jesus during the week of his crucifixion, and to participate with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the ancient traditions which the Church has practiced since the time of the Apostles.

HOLY WEEK begins on Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. First, we hear the Gospel narrative of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Then we use palm fronds and palm crosses to remind us of the palms that were waved and strewn in Jesus’ honor and of the Cross to which he was destined.

Once the procession is over, the mood changes as we hear the Passion story (the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and Crucifixion). The crowd that greets Jesus on Palm Sunday shouting ‘Hosanna becomes the crowd shouting ‘Crucify him’ by the end of Holy Week. Recognizing this shift may make us ask whether our relationship to Jesus is just as fickle. Do we by turns applaud him and, by our behavior and thoughts, crucify him again and again?

The climax of Holy Week is the Triduum (Latin for three days):  Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Each day has its own special and moving liturgy.

Maundy Thursday takes its name from an altered form of mandatum est, Latin for ‘he commanded’. John’s Gospel records that Jesus washed his disciples’ feet when he ate with them for the last time and commanded them to do the same. For this reason, we have a symbolic foot washing at the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday. We also give thanks for Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper.

When the Eucharist is over, two notable things happen. First, some of the sacrament is taken to the Chapel, which has been specially decorated to represent the Garden of Gethsemane. Second, the altar is stripped of its furnishing, which reminds us of the way in which Christ’s tormentors stripped him of his clothes before the Crucifixion.

There will be a Vigil in the Chapel before the ‘Altar of Repose’ (so called because the sacrament reposes there). Doing this reminds us of Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he had to decide whether to obey his Father’s will and submit to arrest and death or run away.

Good Friday is the most somber day of the Church’s Year and, with the Easter celebration of the Resurrection, the most important. The most ancient way of marking Good Friday is with a service (the Solemn Liturgy) in the middle of the day when the story of Jesus’ Crucifixion is read dramatically.

The Solemn Liturgy at St. Andrew’s will begin at 6 p.m. After the reading of the Passion, there is the Veneration of the Cross in which participants are encouraged to come forward and kiss the feet of Christ on the cross; and we will also receive communion from some of the sacrament which has been kept from the night before.

To mark Jesus’ agony and death, there is no celebration of the Eucharist between Maundy Thursday and the Easter Vigil.

The Easter Vigil and Eucharist are the most joyous and important services of the year. At St. Andrew’s, Easter Vigil and Eucharist begins at 10 a.m. in the Courtyard. The Easter liturgy begins with readings about God’s ‘saving acts’ from the creation, through the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, until the time of Jesus’ victory over evil and death.

The principal symbols used in this service are light, fire and water. We will light a bonfire in the courtyard to symbolize the victory over death that is brought about by Christ’s resurrection. From this bonfire we will light the Paschal (Easter) Candle, and all the people follow the light of Christ into the sanctuary.

After the congregation processes into the church, the baptismal water in the font is blessed with the Paschal Candle and all the people then renew their baptismal vows and are sprinkled with water from the font.  Then, the greatest feast in the church’s calendar continues with a Sung Eucharist.

As further signs of the Resurrection, there will be special music, the church will be filled with flowers, and we’ll share a celebratory meal together after service.
​
We hope you will join us during Holy Week this year as we celebrate the hope of all men, the joy of our salvation, and the victory of the Resurrection!

In ​Revelation 12:7-12, St. John describes a great battle saying, "War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,

“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Messiah,

for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down,
who accuses them day and night before our God.

But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,

for they did not cling to life even in the face of death.

Rejoice then, you heavens
and those who dwell in them!

But woe to the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to you

with great wrath,
because he knows that his time is short!”
​Revelation 12:7-12

The Archangel Michael is honored for defeating Lucifer in the war in heaven. He is the patron saint of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police officers, and military personnel.

The veneration of St. Michael—typically regarded as the greatest of the archangels and a mighty defender of the church against Satan—began in the Eastern Church in the 4th century and had spread to Western Christianity by the 5th century. During the Middle Ages, Michaelmas was a great religious feast and many popular traditions grew up around the day which coincided with harvest season in much of western Europe. In England it was the custom to eat goose on Michaelmas, which was supposed to protect against financial need for the next year. In Ireland, finding a ring hidden in a Michaelmas pie meant that one would soon be married.

Michaelmas, the Christian feast of St. Michael the Archangel, is celebrated in Western churches on September 29. Given St. Michael’s traditional position as leader of the heavenly armies, veneration of all angels was eventually incorporated into his feast day. In the Anglican Church, its proper name is the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. 

The Collect for St. Michael and All Angels
Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

It was reported last Sunday that an Egyptian business man was kidnapped and killed by Isis because he supported the construction of a church in his community.

A February 2020 article in Christianity Today cites research showing that a total of 2.4 million Christian’s were killed for their faith in the first 20 years of the 21st century. But the good news, according to christianity.com, is that Christian murders are down. In the 20th century, the deadliest century ever for Christians, 26 million Christian’s were martyred, that was more than all previous centuries combined, from 33A.D. until 1900 only 14 million Christian’s were martyred.

Right now, in the United States, Christians are being sued for expressing their Christian faith, and Governors are sending police to stop worship gatherings, claiming they are a “public health threat.” Don’t think it can’t happen here in Breckenridge, because it can, and it will.
Now more than ever, we need God’s plan of salvation.

Jesus Christ The Son of God took the flesh of the Virgin and was made man -
He came simply that mankind would have a Savior. He died for our sins taking
upon Himself the iniquity of us all. He then rose from the dead and ascended
into heaven - at which time, by His own Blood He entered into the Holy of
Holies and made atonement, propitiating the wrath of God making the way for
us to be at peace with the Father and made sons and daughters of God.
As Christian’s, sons and daughters of God, we are called to be little Christ’s
following the pattern of Christ’s life. We are asked to literally conform our lives
into the image of Christ. We are called to die daily to our own desires, to suffer
willingly, and to intercede for those around us.

We do this by daily endeavoring to follow after Him rejecting this world and its
vain pomp and glory, the Devil and all of his works, and the sinful desires of
the flesh.

In pursuing a life in Christ, we, through the Holy Ghost are made partakers of
the Divine Life and are not only restored to our pre-fall purity, but are elevated
to a higher existence.

Through this higher existence we are commanded to be witnesses - meaning:
1. To seek and save the lost - with God’s help.
2. Witness literally means Martyr in Greek.
3. We are left here in this world to share our faith and draw men to Christ.

Our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, promises to be with us in these endeavors
and provides a sober warning to us that this world will hate you if you are
successful in following Him.

Christ promises that we as Christian’s will undergo trials of many kinds
because of our relationship to Him. Such as death, scourging, starvation,
imprisonment, mocking, beatings, beheading, Etc…

Jesus does not promise us security in this life here. He does promise that in all
these things He will be with us, He will not leave us in our trials. He promises
that if we follow hard after Him, that even when we encounter difficulties of
many types He will provide for us. And in the most severe trials He will
strengthen us through His Spirit, giving us even the words to say at the right
time.

It is an eternal home and reward that we look to, Christ being eternity is our
reward. So He promises to Shepherd us in life and in death that we may have
full confidence in Him.

This world is passing away. Not as the climate change advocates promise, but
that governments, hero or saviors, utopian scheme’s, we can put no faith in the
promises in any of these. These fall short of anything God has already
accomplished for us in the person of His Son Jesus.

Scripture warns us that Satan will be loosed at the end. Progressively evil
anti-christ’s will arise, and there will be many. These are those who offer a
form of salvation through delusion, but ultimately lead many to their
destruction. This leads to the Anti-Christ, the physical embodiment of Satan
who will arise and plunge the world into tribulation.

These anti-christ’s are essentially forerunners to The Anti-Christ, “The Man of
Perdition,” “The Lawless One.” Little by little, Satan’s strategy is to slowly,
progressively, build his plan step by step over time. He does not offer one
“Mark”, but many. Each mark entices us to place our trust in an earthly, worldly
savior, or utopian scheme or device, as a means of achieving heaven on earth.
Have you heard of the “Mark of the Beast?”

These “Marks” progressively condition us not to trust in God’s plan of
salvation, but to place our hope in an humanistic plan. Each time we accept a
loss of freedom for safety or security outside of Christ, we buy into the Anti-
Christ and accept his deception. Eventually this will condition us to accept
“The Mark.”

So what are the Marks? Some say The Mark could be cell phone’s, a chip placed
under the skin, a vaccine, a tattoo of a bar code. No one knows for sure.

The final Mark, we are told by the Church Father’s, will be given when each
person is commanded to bow before the Anti-Christ and worship him. It may
not even be a physical mark, but will seal the one who bows for destruction.

Some from among us will turn from Christ and receive the mark because they
do not recognize the danger and prepare for suffering and spiritual battle. It
could be your neighbor, your friend, your children. It might even be you.

So today I must ask you: ARE YOU READY FOR THE COMING PERSECUTION?

In the end, Christian’s will be despised in the same way they despised,
tortured, and murdered our Savior. Your training ground for that battle is right here, before this altar, where you learn to suffer through the example of the Saints. Where through the practice
of your faith— prayer, fasting, almsgiving and study—you gain the skill and
discipline to do spiritual battle. And most importantly, where you receive
supernatural, spiritual power through the Eucharist.

Gird yourself, my friends. Get ready. THE BATTLE IS ALREADY RAGING AND
WE ARE SOON TO JOIN THE FIGHT.

“Now Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents. Now Isaac loved Esau because he ate his venison, but Rebecca loved Jacob. Then Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and was weary. So Esau said to Jacob, ‘Let me taste this red stew, for I am exhausted.’ Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said to Esau, ‘Sell me your birthright today.’ Esau replied, ‘Look, I am about to die. What good then is this birthright to me?’ Then Jacob said, ‘Swear to me today.’ So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.” -Genesis 25:27-33

Consider the ramifications of this biblical event. Esau, the first-born, saw little value in his birthright. So in a moment of weakness, he chose to satiate his physical appetite rather than value what his birthright entitled him to. When he later sought the blessing which conveyed the birthright, it had been stolen from him and he could not retrieve it back. 

Like Esau, you also have a birthright. As a Christian you were endowed with a birthright at baptism. At the font, you received your birthright as a child of God, and were given a deposit to ensure your inheritance: the Holy Ghost. 

Consider again what Esau sold. “The blessing of the firstborn gave the eldest son a double portion of his father’s inheritance. He would also become the ruler and head over his brethren upon his father’s death and be responsible for the welfare and administration of the family. All this foreshadowed the Lord’s incarnation as the Firstborn of the Father and ruler and head over the Church. Through His incarnation, He would secure the Church’s eternal inheritance.” (From the Orthodox Study Bible)

In addition, Esau relinquished the role of seed bearer. No longer would the line of Christ go through him or his offspring. God would not work through Esau to bring forth salvation to the world. This also meant the Esau was, in essence, cut-off from the family line. 

Hebrew’s 12:15-17 states, “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be a fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”

Esau is considered a profane fornicator because he was unfaithful to God. He despised his birthright and became a man ruled by his fleshly desires and worldly treasures. Though his father loved him, he despised his father and the birthright he was to receive. He was a fool.

But are we modern Christians any different? 

During the great wars, the world witnessed the rise of totalitarian dictators. The rise was due to the direct influence of Marxist socialism, the chief aim of which is communism; the most oppressive form of humanist philosophy that claims total ownership of the men. The literal meaning of totalitarianism is “total ownership of man - body and soul.”

During this time, the Archbishop of Western New York, Fulton J. Sheen, addressed this threat. He asked, how did these totalitarian states get the souls of the people? He followed with this answer: “It was principally because the people abandoned their souls by no longer considering them as God’s. The State then said: If you do not want your souls, we will take them; if you do not want to educate them for the spiritual, we will educated them for the race, the nation, or the class.” 

Today our choice is the same. If we find little value in our eternal birthright then we will sell it for a bowl of lentils. Surely, none of us would literally sell our soul for beans. But each time we prioritize recreation over church attendance, or binge-watch Netflix while neglecting our Bible, we are choosing worthless beans over an eternal birthright.

We must recognize that the world seeks total ownership of our souls. Church involvement no longer provides any social advantages. In fact, it can be downright inconvenient. But God asks His people to think critically, “Behold I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).  The Bible also warns that the Man of Perdition will have gifts in his right hand, but we must understand that in his left hand will be our demise . . . which will come upon us one small compromise at a time. 

So I will ask again, what is your soul worth to you? How can you keep from compromising your birthright? Here are a few suggestions:

• Prioritize church attendance. Make it a goal to miss less than six Sundays per year.  If you’re traveling, find an Anglican Church near you and go there. You’ll find it interesting to visit other Anglican churches.
• Participate in Sunday school or a Bible study and attend consistently.
• Seek the fellowship of other Christians and talk about your spiritual walk with them. Encourage one another and pray for each other.
• Commit to spending time in prayer and Bible reading first thing in the morning. Start by setting your morning alarm just 15 minutes earlier. Brew some coffee, open your Bible and see what God will show you. Don’t know what to read or pray? Grab your prayer book and start with Morning Prayer. It will soon become your favorite part of the day.
• Share your faith with others. Do you have family or friends visiting over the weekend? Great, bring them to church with you! If they choose not to join you, go anyway. Your invitation and faithful commitment will be a powerful witness to them.

Remember your oath of confirmation, when you promised to “reject the world, the flesh, and the devil.” As your priest, I am always available to help in any way I can. I am honored to do it. The devil is subtle, therefore we must be ever vigilant.

The Very Rev. Donald Sackett
Rector St. Andrew’s Anglican Church

While the close of October is typically known for Halloween, the last day of October was formerly a liturgical feast day known as All Hallows’ Eve. Today's tradition of costumes and candy stems from a much earlier practice of dressing up as saints and demons to act out the battle between good and evil. While All Hallow's Eve is no longer celebrated in most churches, we can still remember and prepare our hearts to remember those who have gone before us.

In the Anglican tradition, All Hallows' Eve is followed by All Saints’ Day on November 1st. Even though many saints of the church are remembered throughout the calendar year, All Saints’ Day provides a dedicated day to call to memory those saints who, through their profound faith and sacrificial acts, have led the way before us. We honor the example of their lives and deaths and rejoice in our continued communion with them through membership and participation in the body of Christ.

Pope John Paul II said, "We celebrate today the solemnity of All Saints. This invites us to turn our gaze to the immense multitude of those who have already reached the blessed land, and points us on the path that will lead us to that destination." The examples of the saints and martyrs of the Church put flesh on the teachings of scripture and provide countless examples of both holy living and holy dying.

All Souls’ Day is observed on November 2, the day following All Saints’ Day. While All Saints’ Day focuses on those saints whose work and witness affected the history of the larger church, All Souls’ Day is dedicated to the quiet and obscure. It is a day dedicated to remembering those everyday saints whose faithful, ordinary lives have built up our own lives and local churches. Although there is no formal service, many choose to visit or decorate the gravesites of the “ordinary saints” in their families and communities.

Let's pray that we might become "ordinary saints," people who's lives are spent serving others and pointing them toward Christ. May we be remembered not for our faults which are many, nor for our possessions which are few, but for how well we loved our Savior and served him with all our hearts.

This season is an excellent time to learn about a saint, to study the written prayers of saints from church history, and to specifically thank God for those who were instrumental in leading you and others into a profession of faith. Most importantly, let us witness to our eternal hope as we pray, "Therefore with Angels, and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Glory be to thee,O Lord most High. Amen."