Christmas
Eve
The weather for the Christmas Eve service was textbook
Southern California, mid 60°Fs, clear and calm. It does not get any better than this. Particularly since the past week was
cold and blustery. All this and
the coming of the Lord! What more
could you ask? With the almost
perfect weather, we ended up with 4 people for the service.
Propers
Because one of our congregation
would be out of town on Christmas Day, we used the propers for the first
service of Christmas Day for our Christmas Eve service which are found on Page
96-98, with the Collect first:
The Collect.
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GOD, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of
the birth of thine only Son Jesus Christ; Grant that as we joyfully receive him
for our Redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come
to be our Judge, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen.
Ryan Hopkins read
the Epistle, which came from Paul’s letter to Titus beginning in the Eleventh
Verse of the Second Chapter. Paul
tells Titus that it is only God’s grace that gives us salvation. If we are going to accept that grace,
we need to live the life to which God has called us. Regardless of cost, we
need to live the life God has purchased for us.
We need to trust in God and in this world live
cleanly, conservatively, thoughtfully, looking towards God for our
salvation. We need to encourage
and exhort other Christians to do likewise.
To live in harmony with others.
To be, to the extent we are able, paragons of
virtue. Serving as good examples,
not bad. Paul tells Titus to do
what is right, trust is God and worry not. Quoting a later author, “Trust in God and Dread Naught.”
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HE grace of God
that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly,
in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for
us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and
rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Tonight’s Gospel is the narrative of the Nativity
from the Gospel according to Saint Luke, the Second Chapter, beginning at the First
Verse.
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ND it came to pass in those days, that
there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be
taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up
from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his
espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were
there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought
forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in
a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the
same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto
them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall
be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the
babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was
with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city
of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David: ) to be taxed with Mary his
espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were
there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought
forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in
a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the
same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto
them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall
be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the
babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good
will toward men.
Sermon – Time
and Action
Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and
Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords above.
Today we remember and celebrate
the coming of our Lord, the first time; we look to the coming of our Lord, the
second time. The Jews were looking
to God to send the Messiah, the one who they determined would free them from
the brutal yoke of the Romans and put them on top again. The veritable Top Dogs. They wanted a Champion to lead them to
victory over the Romans and throw them off Israel. What God sent was a baby. Well, The Baby, but nonetheless a baby. Shepherds came to worship Him, but
Herod was looking to kill Him. No
good in having a Champion putting Herod out of the petty quisling dictator job.
What God sent the Jews was His
Son. In point of fact, He sent Him
to the Jews first, but not only.
The “Wise Men” showed up to worship Him and regardless of who they might
have been, they certainly were not Jews.
This Son was to free the Jews from the Prince of Darkness and the
finality of death. That really did
not fit the Jew’s plan.[1] They were still looking for Expulsor,
he who would toss the Romans out on their heads.
Some guy coming to save their
souls, without the need for slaughtering the profitable sacrificial animals did
not really fit their plan. They
had The Law, what more did they need?
The Jews concentrated on their
wants and ignored their needs.
Need, Want – both four letter words, oft used interchangeably. Sadly, they don’t mean the same thing.
So, that is where the Jews were
on Christmas Eve; Christmas Day for that matter. God intended to fulfill their needs, they looked to have
their wants fulfilled.
How about us on this Christmas
Eve; or Christmas Day for that matter?
Are we looking for someone to make us rich, thin or cool? Or are we looking for someone who will
save our souls? Do what God asks,
you will not only gain eternal life, but eternal happiness and as a plus you
will be happy. You may think you
can have more fun, but He guarantees you will be happy.
As we come upon this midnight
clear, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ waits for us. Will we accept it? Follow Him, accept His Grace and all
will be good forever.
He comes!
Christmas
Day
The weather for the Christmas Day service was absolutely
beautiful. Sunrise temperature on
Mount Olympus was 48°F, warming to 63°F by church time. The horses were all enthralled with the
Christmas hats. They would have
been even happier if they had all gotten Christmas mash! Maybe tonight. The lovely weather brought 3 people to
worship the Lord on the day of his birth.
Gathering Song
Because it is Christmas, Jack Arnold chose to move
out of our traditional gathering songs and picked What Child is this for the gathering song with a slightly different
chorus than that in Hymn 36 in the Hymnal. It is a beautiful song and truly representative of the
complete meaning of Christ’s coming.
What
Child is this…?
1. What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
2. Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
3. So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
This special Christmas gathering
song is a truly wonderful work.
Read it carefully and think the meaning through.
Propers
The propers for today are found
on Page 96-98, with the Collect first:
The Nativity of our Lord, or the Birthday of Christ,
commonly called Christmas Day.
[December 25.]
The
Collect.
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LMIGHTY
God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and
as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate,
and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy
Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with
thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave.
Dru Arnold read the Epistle for Christmas Day, which
came from the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews, beginning at the
First Verse of the First Chapter.
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od, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake
in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken
unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he
made the worlds; who being the
brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all
things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat
down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than
the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day
have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to
me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he
saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith,
Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the
Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of
righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and
hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of
gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the
foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: they
shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou
art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
Deacon Striker Jack Arnold read the Gospel for
Christmas Day which came from the Gospel according to Saint John, the First
Chapter, beginning at the First Verse. This particular Gospel is known as the Last Gospel as
it comes from the last Gospel to be written, that of St. John, and it brings
the final Word of Jesus to us.
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n the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the
beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There
was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to
bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not
that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true
Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the
world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto
his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace
and truth.
Sermon – Time
and Action
Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and
Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords above.
Today we recall the birth of our Lord and Savior, the
only means by which we, imperfect creatures with free will, might be accounted
as perfect before God when our day of judgment comes. Born, not in a palace, but in a stable, He is all that we
have been promised. Taking the
substance of Man, all Man and all God, He knows our temptations, He knows our
failures, He knows our failings, He knows our sorrow; He also knows our
happiness, our small triumphs, our hopes and our dreams. He is the only one in this world who
will never fail us in the slightest.
He gives us His example to follow.
If we will but follow Him, we will draw closer to God. He made the world, He knows the
world. He defeated the Prince of
this World, thus with His Help, so will we. This is a day of joy, foreshadowing a day of sorrow, leading
to the greatest joy of all.
Let this be a blessed and happy Christmas. He has come to us!
Bishop
Ogles’ Christmas Message
Bishop Jerry sent his annual Christmas message. This is not your typical meaningless
gibbering. I think you will really
enjoy his letter. As always, I cannot commend it to you enough.
Now when Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men
from the East of Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
For we have seen his STAR in the east, and are come to worship him.
(Matt2:1-2)
The people that walked in
darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of
death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2)
When
we think of Christmas and the birth of Christ, what one element distinguishes
that day from all other `Holy-Days,' or holidays? I believe the greatest
distinction is the light that characterizes the charity and brightness of
Christmas. When I was a lad, there was a small mountain overlooking our town.
Atop the mountain was a great star that was lighted the Friday after
Thanksgiving. When we saw the Star, we knew Christmas was not faraway. I can
still see that star as vividly in my imagination now as then with my naked eyes
as a child. The brightly adorned gifts of Christmas reminded me of the Magi who
came with those prophetic gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. And the
Christmas Tree, so harshly maligned in contemporary society, made me to
remember back to that Beautiful Tree of Life (foreshadowing Christ) that stood in
the midst of Eden and was neglected by our ancient parents to the detriment of
their (and our) souls and, sadly, neglected by today's society.
From
the early dawn of Creation when the chaotic vapors drifted upon a sea of formless
matter and darkness, the world has languished in a spiritual darkness that
smothers the soul and stifles the spirit, except for that brief time when God
walked among the man and woman He had Created after His own likeness and image
in the Garden. It was not the people of Israel only that suffered blindness and
deprivation of light, but, indeed, the whole mass of humanity. They groped upon
the earth as men in stupor. They found time to mock Noah and his sons during
the 100+ years that the Ark was being built but, when God closed the door of
the Ark, the reality of their misery and hopelessness arose suddenly in their
breasts as they sought refuge on the mountains and treetops with the wild beast
clawing at their heels.
The
darkness was not total in antiquity past, for there was the bright torch, held
aloft by Abraham and his descendants, that represented hope of that future
Light that would light the whole world. Abraham would not be required to
sacrifice his own son (whom he loved), but God would "provide Himself a
Lamb (His own only Begotten Son) for the offering." (Gen22:8)
Wise
men of the East – perhaps the Persian Zoroastrians for their priest were called
Magi - found the promises of pagan religion unfulfilling and empty of promise.
Being wise, they studied the ancient writings of the prophets of God and
searched the heavens for the promise of His Coming…and they saw it! Though
lacking the privilege of daily instruction in Holy Scripture, these men gained
more wisdom in the little that they read than all the scribes and rulers of
Israel at the time. How natural that the Coming of the Light of the World would
be heralded by a brilliant and night-piercing STAR. Being the Morning/Evening
Star, Christ gives His promise of fellowship and company with us through the
long night and shadow of death of our earthly walk. But no night last forever,
and He shall soon be that Day Star referenced by Peter (2 Pet 1:9) and that
"Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings" referenced in
Malachi (Mal 4:2)
In
the cold, dark winter of our souls, God sent Light and warmth to us in the
Person of His Beloved Son, Jesus, knowing full well that His Son would be
murdered by the keepers of the vineyard. How could God send His Beloved a
ransom for the miserable and stubborn creatures that rebelled time and again
against His Sovereignty. There is only one explanation – unmerited Love and
Grace! At His first Coming, Christ bowed the canopy of heaven to earth to touch
us. He did not come in a fine horse drawn chariot with flowing robes of royalty
(though He was King); but as an innocent and helpless little child needing His
mother's love and nourishment. He came to be like us, and to suffer like unto
us, in every way – except sin. He was ever pure and sinless though living among
the common beasts of the stall.
This
Advent and Christmas, let us remember and love the Child that came to us in our
depravity. Let us also love and fear Him who shall just as surely come again
with power and great glory, for His Light is made ready for all who are not
blind to see.
Merry
Christmas to all our beloved friends and family this Christmastide and every
day of the coming years left before He comes!
Jerry
L. Ogles
+Jerry
L. Ogles, DD
Presiding
Bishop, Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
Chancellor,
Faith Theological Seminary
Bishop
Dennis Campbell’s Christmas Message
Taking a break from his customary
brilliant analysis, Bishop Dennis steps in to Bishop Jerry’s realm of poetry
and song sending us this Christmas piece:
Where charity
and love are, God is there.
Christ's love
has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice
and be pleased in Him.
Let us fear,
and let us love the living God.
And may we love
each other with a sincere heart.
Where charity
and love are, God is there.
As we are
gathered into one body,
Beware, lest we
be divided in mind.
Let evil
impulses stop, let controversy cease,
And may Christ
our God be in our midst.
Where charity
and love are, God is there.
And may we with
the saints also,
See Thy face in
glory, O Christ our God:
The joy that is
immense and good,
Unto the ages
through infinite ages. Amen.
(from the hymn "Ubi
Caritas", which can be heard online at youtube.com)
Merry Christmas
+Dennis
Greetings from
the AOC Bishop of Pakistan
Bishop Jerry Ogles & AOC family around the world:
On behalf of AOC Pakistan and Faith Theological
Seminary I extend greetings to all
brothers and sisters of USA and around the world. Next week we will be celebrating the Birthday of Jesus. We
should remember seven things on
this Christmas.
1. His Pre-existence. He was in the begining with
God: John 1:1,2
2. His birth was prophesied. The Angel Gabriel
prophesied His birth: Luke
1:26,33
3.His place of birth. He was born in Bethelehem and
was laid in a manger.: Luke
2:4,7
4.The announcement concerning His birth. The Angel
announced Christ as Saviour: Luke 2:11
5.His Father's love.The Father's love is a
life-giving love: 1
John 4:9
6. His compassion toward mankind. His compassion
toward the scattered multitudes: Matt.9:36
7. His mission to the earth. He came to preach (Mark
1:38), to fulfill the law (Matt. 5:17), and to save sinners. 1 Tim. 1:15
May your Christmas and coming year be filled with
happiness.
+The Rt. Rev. Dr. Ernest Jacob
Bishop of AOC in Pakistan
Greetings from
the AOC Bishop of Latin Missions based in Canada
Dear Bishop Ogles,
On behalf of the Latin Missions of the AOC, and
especially of the clergy, Brian +, Antonio +, Renato +, Eric E.G. +, Eric M.B.
+, Eric M.S.+ , Fabio +, and
Eduardo Andrés +, I would like to extend my best wishes to all the
clergy and people of the AOC at Christmastide. Our prayer is that every heart
will truly be a manger. Warmest greetings also from the Rev. Doug Richardson +,
Deacon, and the members of
Ascension AO Mission in Kendal, SK. and Gladstone MB., in Canada.
In Christ,
+ Garth Neel
Bishop, AOC Latin Missions, Ascension AO Mission, Canada.
Greetings from
the AOC Bishop of India
Dear All,
I have attended and preached at a Semi-Christmas
program conducted by the United Christian Chapel, Eluru on 22nd
December 2011 night and at Semi-Christmas cum Church Anniversary of ICM Church
at Chavalipadu Village. Please find the puctures. The semi-Christmas programs
were finished for this year and preparing for the Christmas service.
+John, India
--
The Most Rev.Dr.John SDR Nakka,
The Primate :
India Christian Mission Church(1897)-at-large,
Bishop : Diocese of Krishna Godavary,
Bishop's House, Railway Station Road,
ELURU-534005, A.P., South India.
[1]
By the way, it has
been said if you really want to make God laugh, tell Him your plan. I don’t take credit for the thought,
but sadly I do not know where I first heard it.
