260524 AOC Sunday Report

 

Anglican Orthodox Church _sm

Worldwide Communion

Whitsunday - Pentecost
May 24, 2026

Sunday Report

 

Whitsunday-Pentecost

The propers are special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of England in the 1540’s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of Canterbury after the re-founding.

 

The Collect for the Day is to be read on Sunday and during Morning and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday. The Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various Epistles, or letters, in the New Testament. The Gospel is a reading from one of the Holy Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect is said by the minister as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated reader (as we do in our church) or by one of the ministers and the Holy Gospel, which during the service in our church is read by an ordained minister.

 

The propers are the same each year, except if a Red-Letter Feast, that is one with propers in the prayerbook, falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read instead, except in a White Season, where it is put off. Red Letter Feasts, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks the titles are in red, are special days. Most of the Red-Letter Feasts are dedicated to early saint’s instrumental in the development of the church, others to special events. Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day is to be used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent or Lent. The Propers for today are found in the Book of Common Prayer page 180-182.

 The Collect for Whitsunday-Pentecost

O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.⁋This collect is to be said daily throughout Whitsun week

  Epistle for Whitsunday-Pentecost.   Acts ii. 1.

WHEN the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

 The Gospel for Whitsunday-Pentecost. St. John xiv. 15

JESUS said unto his disciples, If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you  comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.

 

On Point:  Which Taketh away the Sin of the World - a Word from Charles Spurgeon

"I have read of one who dreamed a dream, when in great distress of mind, about religion. He thought he stood in the outer court of heaven, and he saw a glorious host marching up, singing sweet hymns and bearing the banners of victory, and they passed by him through the gate, and when they vanished he heard in the distance sweet strains of music. 'Who are they ?' he asked. 'They are the goodly fellowship of the prophets, who have gone to be with God.' And he heaved a deep sigh as he said, ‘Alas, I am not one of them, and never shall be; I cannot enter there.' By and by there came another band, equally lovely in appearance, and equally triumphant, and robed in white. They passed within the portals, and again were shouts of welcome heard within. 'Who are they?'  he asked. ''They are the goodly fellowship of the apostles.' he said, 'I belong not to that fellowship, and cannot enter there.'He still waited and lingered, in the hope that he might get in; but the next multitude didn't encourage him, for they were a noble army of martyrs. He could not go with them, nor wave their palm branches. At last, as he walked, he saw a larger host than all the rest put together, marching and singing most melodiously, and in front walked a woman that was a sinner, and the thief that died on the cross, hard by the Saviour; and he thought; 'There will be no shouting about them.' But to his astonishment, it seemed as if all heaven was rent with seven fold shouts as they passed in. And the angel said to him:' These are they that are mighty sinners saved by mighty grace.' And then he said: 'Blessed be God, I can go in with them.' And so he awoke.

Blessed be God, you and I too can go in with that company. I cannot hope to go in anywhere but with that company. Such is my own sense of how I expect to enter heaven, and we will go together, brother sinner or sister sinner, trusting in the precious blood and washed in the blood of the Lamb. God grant it may be so." — Spurgeon.

 

 

 Jerry Ogles, Presiding Bishop, 
Metropolitan AOC Worldwide

 We are fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s you tube links, devotions on the Prayer of the Collect and sermon notes.

 

Bishop Jerry creates videos on various subjects, they last just under ten minutes and this week’s videos are listed below:

Bishop Ogles Blog:
 https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com  

Bishop Ogles You Tube Channel
that is free to subscribe: all of his videos at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuW3bgXBJFomPB5mZ4Oigxg

 

Memorial Davy 2026 Video Message from Bishop Ogles

Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/05/youtube-video-player_0337556893.html?spref=fb

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq5bw126pR4

 

 

 Thursday Night Video Devotional: The Promise of the Seed of the Woman.

 Bishop’s Blog:  https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/05/youtube-video-player_02051061422.html

 You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNAu_NESyvA&t=1s

 

  

 

   

 The Anglican Orthodox Church ^SM

^{founder: the most rev. james parker dees, a.b., b.d., d.d.  • founded November 16, 1963
2228 Wilkesboro Hwy • P. O. Box 128 • Statesville, North Carolina 28687- 0128
Telephone 704.873.8365
Email: aocworldwide@gmail.com Web: www.aocinternational.org
The Most Rev. Jerry L. Ogles — Presiding Bishop}

MEMORIAL DAY LETTER

 “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.” Hebrews 13:3

 25 May 2026

             Memorials began in Eden when God established the Sabbath Day of rest. He later reminds us in His Ten Commandments to ‘remember’ the Sabbath Day. God also established other memorials for our benefit throughout Scripture. To remember the past is to be forearmed regarding the future. 

            Today is a day set aside as a day of special remembrance of those who gave the last full measure of devotion and sacrifice for our liberties - the American service men and women who lost their lives in defense thereof. Many lie in unmarked graves from the Pacific Basin to the Ardennes Forest; and from San Juan Hill to the ravished alleys of Kabul. Those who died in battle did not enjoy the privilege of a peaceful passing - they did not die in the familiar rooms of their homes and families. They died on the battlefields of freedom amidst the terrors and vicissitudes of war.

            Until the cessation of the military draft, every American had a role to play in the defense of our liberties.  Many young men and women died far from home and unheralded - some as young as the tender age of seventeen. What an enormous debt we owe our fallen brave!

            Unlike the inhabitants of many parts of the world, we do not lie awake at night to hear the volley of musketry or the whistle of the incoming artillery shells of destruction. We rest in assurance that our homes and families will not face an uncertain tomorrow, amidst the dirges and depravation of war, thanks to our uniformed service members. We seldom even acknowledge the great price they paid for our liberties. The list of family names that mark the graves of our fallen patriots in Military Cemeteries around the world are those we know well as neighbors and comrades. I, too, lost a younger brother of nineteen years in the Vietnam War. Practically every American family can cite the names of their kin who were killed in battle in the varied wars for freedom of our nation.

            Let us at least on this day set aside a time to mark the memories of those beloved souls who have given so much that we may enjoy the breath of freedom across our fruited plains and farmlands - just one day to honor and remember their names and sacrifices. 

            May the Lord of Heaven, and ever-present God of Battles, record the names of the believing soldier in a favored section of His Book of Life; and may we, too, share in the same courage that these have demonstrated.

            May this be another day of peace and liberty for our nation purchased at so great a price; and let us remember the greatest of all sacrifices made by our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer to purchase our treasure liberties on a hill outside the gates of Jerusalem two thousand years past.

 In Christ Alone during Whitsuntide,

  † Jerry Ogles
Presiding Bishop AOC Metropolitan  

 

Roy Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor
Saint Paul's Anglican Church - Diocese of the Midwest Anglican Orthodox Church 
Suffragan Bishop of the AOC

 

Morning Prayer - Whitsuntide

Psalms 48; First lesson: Isaiah 11:1-9; Second lesson: John 6:53-69

Almighty and everlasting God, who has given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; we beseech thee that thou wouldest keep us steadfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen

hymns    # 188, 369, 263, 578

“The light of thy Holy Spirit”

We can read about the events of Pentecost Sunday in Acts 2:1-11. This is the historical rendition of what happened that day in Jerusalem some fifty days after Christ Jesus resurrection.

What I would like to focus on today comes from the reading of the second lesson found in John’s Gospel the sixth chapter starting about verse 52 and following. It is here that we will begin to understand what Jesus was really saying about “eating his body and drinking his blood”. 

It wasn’t some form of cannibalism, it was not a strange Jewish ritual that was from ancient times. The misunderstanding and out of context interpretation of those phrases will give rise to many forms of neo-paganism, a strange doctrine of transubstantiation. Which becomes the backbone of the Roman mass and a daily sacrifice of Christ where ever mass is celebrated world-wide.  Again, misunderstanding the Word and then adding too much tradition and ancient superstitions that continue to this day.

So what was Christ on about when he said : “⁵²Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. ⁵³Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁴For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. (John 6:52-54)

⁵⁶He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.”

What does Matthew Henry say about this “hard” passage found in John 6? *The flesh and blood of the Son of man, denote the Redeemer in the nature of man; Christ and him crucified, and the redemption wrought out by him, with all the precious benefits of redemption; pardon of sin, acceptance with God, the way to the throne of grace, the promises of the covenant, and eternal life.

 These are called the flesh and blood of Christ, because they are purchased by the breaking his body, and the shedding of his blood. Also, because they are meat and drink to our souls. Eating this flesh and drinking this blood mean believing in Christ. We partake of Christ and his benefits by faith. The soul that rightly knows its state and wants, finds whatever can calm the conscience, and promote true holiness, in the redeemer, God manifest in the flesh. Meditating upon the cross of Christ gives life to our repentance, love, and gratitude. We live by him, as our bodies live by our food. We live by him, as the members by the head, the branches by the root: because he lives we shall live also. *Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.

⁵⁷As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. ⁵⁸This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

 So now what happens is a type of pruning of the followers.  Those who did not belong to God and were not true followers of Christ, soon began to fall away. These words were too hard for them to understand...without the illumination of the Holy Spirit. 

⁶⁰Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? ⁶¹When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? ⁶²What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 

The human nature of Christ had not before been in heaven, but being God and man, that wondrous Person was truly said to have come down from heaven. The Messiah's kingdom was not of this world; and they were to understand by faith, what he had said of a spiritual living upon him, and his fulness.

⁶³It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

 As without the soul of man the flesh is of no value, so without the quickening Spirit of God all forms of religion are dead and worthless.

⁶⁵And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

He who made this provision for our souls, alone can teach us these things, and draw us unto Christ, that we may live by faith in him. Let us apply to Christ, thankful that it is declared that every one who is willing to come unto him shall be made welcome.

⁶⁶From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. ⁶⁷Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? ⁶⁸Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

When we admit into our minds hard thoughts of the words and works of Jesus, we enter into temptation, which, if the Lord in mercy prevent not, will end in drawing back. The corrupt and wicked heart of man often makes that an occasion for offence, which is matter of the greatest comfort. Our Lord had, in the foregoing discourse, promised eternal life to his followers; the disciples fastened on that plain saying, and resolved to cleave to him, when others fastened on hard sayings, and forsook him.

 Christ's doctrine is the word of eternal life, therefore we must live and die by it. If we forsake Christ, we forsake our own mercies. They believed that this Jesus was the Messiah promised to their fathers, the Son of the living God. When we are tempted to backslide or turn away, it is good to remember first principles, and to keep to them. And let us ever remember our Lord's searching question; Shall we go away and forsake our Redeemer? To whom can we go? He alone can give salvation by the forgiveness of sins. And this alone brings confidence, comfort, and joy, and bids fear and despondency flee away. It gains the only solid happiness in this world, and opens a way to the happiness of the next.

 As we come to understand what Christ Jesus was really teaching about we need to continue in the Word, continue to grow, continue in our faith, and most importantly continue in Christ. There are many times during the preaching ministry of Christ on earth that he makes reference to Bread, Waters of Life, Shedding of Blood, all being an integral part of the Gospel message.

Remember where Jesus was born? 

 In Bethlehem the city of David. Bethlehem is Hebrew for house of bread. The same place where Ruth was redeemed by Boaz while gathering barley, a grain for bread. This same Bethlehem will be where Ruth’s great grandson will be born and later anointed as the next king of Israel. Yes this same Bethlehem is where King David was born.

So is all of this not related to Jesus message. Absolutely related. The Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah, the Redeemer of man, the second Adam. This second Adam, Christ Jesus will affect the redemption of God’s creation, man, who was created in His Image.  Christ Jesus, the bread (body) broken for our redemption, the wine (blood) shed for our sinful bodies will be remembered in Holy Communion, until He comes again to His Kingdom.

When we eat the bread depicting his Body and drink the wine depicting his shed blood we are to feed on him in faith. There is no sacrifice of Christ over and over again as depicted in the Roman belief system teaches. No when Jesus uttered his last words on the Cross before he died, IT IS FINISHED, he was indicating that there was no more need for animal sacrifice. It never truly saved the people, it gave a foreshadowing of the “once and for all perfect sacrifice, that being the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, was all sufficient. All blood sacrifice was forever finished. His shed blood, his broken body on the Cross redeemed those who God gave to Christ, redeemed unto eternal life.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in thy well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that all the peoples of the earth, though now divided and in bondage to sin, may be made free and brought together under his most gracious rule, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead; We give thee thanks for all those thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence, that the good work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

 IN Christ alone during Whitsuntide

 +Roy                                                                                                                         
   

  

Jack Arnold
Bishop of the Diocese of the West – AOC USA
Education and Training Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide
Church of the Faithful Centurion

Whitsuntide - Pentecost

Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords above.

  Consider these words from the Collect:

 … who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations …

 In the Collect, we acknowledge that God knows the dangers, toils and snares with which we must contend, which so often keep us from the upright acknowledgement and defense of that which is true and correct. Because of our mortal nature, we will at times stumble and fall. Knowing this, the collect has us turn to God to request his strength and protection that we might get through the most difficult times when we are at our weakest and tend to stumble and fall through temptations. We must remember in these times to call upon the strength of the Holy Ghost and let Him guide us in our actions through these difficult times.

 Paul points out in his epistle that as we are all here on Earth, earthly rulers are subject to God and His Rules and they ultimately need to defer to Him for their authority, not look to themselves for that authority. Their authority derives from God not from man.  He points out that whosoever rejects the powers or the knowledge that the powers they are given come from God are rejecting/resisting God himself. Paul says thoat those who are in positions of power that do evil should be afraid, for God does not take abuse of the power that He has handed man lightly. We know that in the end, all of these rules who blaspheme and mock God will get their comeuppance. This is a thought that to me makes bearing the trials of this world that are caused by weak and evil rulers much easier.

 Of course, to paraphrase Solomon, this is nothing new. Man has always sought to supplant God as the ultimate authority on earth. We see that with the Tower of Babel among other cautionary tales. It is a tale that is as old as time. Man is naturally incline to turn away from God and not towards Him and this is the reason why power corrupts so many. This is the whole basis behind both communism and National Socialism.  There are slight differences between both mainly the means of production, but the end result is very similar in both.  They both seek to supplant God and His Authority here on earth, and make the State a non-God based church on earth, where instead of worshiping God, they worship man, basically worshipping Satan instead.

 Paul says if we are doing good then we need not be afraid of the power from God that is on loan to the rulers who are ministers of God in a way. The only people who need be afraid of them are evildoers, who the ruler is appointed to use the sword to bring before God for justice. However, if the rulers that be are not punishing evil doers put people who are good doers, then we know they are not worthy of the power that God has bestowed upon them. Again, this is becoming more and more apparent across the globe. We are not in the business of condemning people’s souls to one eternal destination or the other, that is God’s job. But, Paul points out that we can arrange for the meeting to happen, when people violate God’s most sovereign laws.

 Paul goes on to say that through the authority invested by them in God, people need to pay the rulers tribute, to which it is due, the customs to custom, fear to fear, honor to honor. It goes very much hand in hand with what Jesus said on the subject “Render unto Caesar’s which is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s.” There is respect which ought to be paid to the rightful people who are the representatives of God ruling the people. That respect ends however, when those representatives reject God’s authority and are no longer worthy of the respect.

 This also goes back to the honor thy father and thy mother concept. As long as they are doing their best to raise you up in a Christian way and showing by example to follow Christ to get to heaven, then they are worthy of that honor. But if they are doing the opposite, then they are not worthy of the honor.  It is still worth behaving in a Christian manner to both unfaithful rulers and parents, but realize they become unworthy of that honor when they reject God and His Authority. This does not mean to treat them spitefully or wrathfully, but to simply recognize that they are no longer worthy of that honor when they reject God and His Authority.

 Christianity is not a solitary religion, one all about the individual, though it certainly depends on individuals as part of the Team lead by Christ to carry it out. It relies on each and every one of us working together to spread the Word through ought the known world. A hermit worshiping alone will not effect much in this World, but a group of believers that are unapologetically bold and transformed by the renewing of their minds will accomplish much for His Cause. We must allow the Holy Ghost into our heart souls and minds, that our minds might be renewed and that we can go forth and spread the Word.

 Faith and action, is what Christianity is all about. Christ’s actions upon the cross the solid base that our faith is based upon.  His death and resurrection is the key principle behind Christianity. Actions are a crucial element of our faith. Christ’s faith accounts us as perfect before God because of His Actions.  The centurion of this week’s Gospel is a symbol of faith and what appears to be inaction is his action.  He is also the person for whom our parish draws its name.  The centurion was the basic leader symbol of the Roman Empire.  A group of eight to ten soldiers was led by a Contubern. Ten Contubernium formed a Centuria, which was led by a Centurion.  Six to ten of these formed a Cohort, also led by a Centurion.  He was an important man, able to reward or punish at will.  He knew power and how to wield it.

 When the Centurion came to Jesus, he knew who He was and His Power.  When the Centurion told Jesus of his servant’s illness, the Centurion knew all Jesus had to do was will the wellness and it was done.

 There was no question in his mind, the Centurion knew Jesus. His action was the seeming inaction of acknowledging his unworthiness and telling Jesus, “I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.”

 We are all unworthy.  The best of us is not worthy that He should come under our roof; yet we know if He will speak The Word only, our souls shall be healed and all will be accounted well before God.  That is all He asks, “Let Me speak The Word only.”

 There is but one way to heaven.

That easy to find, easy to follow, easy to hike path does not lead to the summit where eternal life in the real world awaits.  Open your heart to the Holy Ghost, use His Power to follow our Lord to God who awaits in heaven.

 The time is now, not tomorrow.  The time has come, indeed.  How will you ACT?

It is by our actions we are known.

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

                                                                           

                                                                             

Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi  

We are always grateful to get these wonderful sermons from Rev. Bryan, they keep us on our toes!

Sermon Text for Whitsunday:

In the Old Testament book of Micah, God informed the prophet that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem in Judah: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (5:2-4). The name Bethlehem means “house of bread”, and how fitting it was that he who is the living bread should be born there. Back in my boyhood days, my grandmother once spoke of bread as “the staff of life” on account of its importance as a staple food for people since “Hector was a pup,” or, if you will, from the beginning of human history. The apostle John recorded the words our Lord on this very subject when he said: I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. (6:48-50). And in our gospel lesson from the same our Lord said: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (6:53-58).

God has supplied us with numerous accounts regarding his provision for and assistance of his servants. From Scripture, we understand that the manna mentioned by our Lord in St. John’s gospel was given to the children of Israel for their sustenance following their exodus from Egypt (Exodus 16:15). God does not send his own out into the wilderness to die. God will sustain his own. He may use what might be termed the apparent and the ordinary; while in many instances, as noted in the scriptures, he may use the miraculous. Consider the prophet Elijah who was fed by the ravens at the brook of Cherith (I Kings 17:2-7); or Elijah and his care for the widow of Zarephath. The LORD preserved her and her son via his restorative power so that her containers of oil and flour were miraculously replenished until the famine in the land had passed, as well as raising her son from death (I Kings 17:8-24). God saved his people time and again as recorded in the books of Judges, Esther, Nehemiah, Isaiah and Daniel. And God’s love has been manifested in so many different ways that it would take a multitude of sermons to cover them all adequately. So let us sharpen our focus on the issue of Jesus Christ as that bread of life.

In our liturgy of the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, we hear the following Words of Institution given us by our Lord: do this in remembrance of me. We also hear the words, this is my body and this is my blood. Bishop Ryle once noted that, “The conduct of the disciples at the Lord's Supper forbids us to believe that the bread they received was Christ's body and the wine Christ's blood. They were all Jews taught from their infancy that it was sinful to eat flesh with the blood (Deut. 12:23-25). Yet they were not startled by our Lord's words as if they perceived a change in the bread and wine. Our own senses forbid us to believe that there is any change in the bread and the wine. Our own taste tells us that they are really and literally what they appear to be. Things above our reason the Bible requires us to believe, but not what contradicts our senses. Our Lord's true human nature forbids us to believe that his body can be in more than one place at one time. If our Lord's body could sit at table and at the same time be eaten by the disciples it is perfectly clear that it is not a human body like our own. But this we must not allow for one moment. It is the glory of Christianity that our Redeemer is perfect man as well as perfect God. The language in which our Lord spoke made it quite unnecessary to interpret his words literally. The Bible is full of similar expressions. Our Lord spoke of himself as a door and a vine so we know that he used emblems and figures to describe himself. There is therefore no inconsistency in his using figurative language in instituting the Supper.

What Bishop Ryle has written concerning the Lord’s Supper is based not on a pronouncement of some earthly body or council, but upon the very words of God. We cannot escape the fact that in our eating of the bread and drinking of the  cup we are memorializing our Lord’s death and sacrifice— remembering his passion and giving thanks for his free gift of grace to us.

Listen further to what our Lord said about himself, I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (St. John 6:51). Christ came to offer himself up as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. He did not come as something foreign to the teachings of the law because he fulfilled the law. We are therefore to partake of him after a spiritual sense not in a physical one. Consider the words of St. Paul in the epistle of Hebrews: For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (9:24-28)

Now a caveat is in order at this point. St. Paul warned the Corinthian church not to take lightly their participation in the Holy Communion when he penned the following admonition, For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (I Corinthians 11:26-27). Nothing done in our worship of the Godhead should be considered mundane or trivial, and such is doubly important in our partaking of this sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. God expects 100% participation and 100% understanding because he has given us such in detail within the Holy Bible.

But there is more. When we hear the words of The Invocation (page 81 of the BCP), that we be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, and made one body with him, that he may dwell in us and we in him, we understand that we are joined with our Lord via the Holy Ghost who resides within every born-again believer. And so, in our partaking of the communion elements, we are affirming the very presence of our Saviour within us. Holy Communion then is more than just a memorial feast, it is a spiritual linking of ourselves to our Lord.

The living bread has come into the world and has given us the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Our duty then is to break the bread and to drink from the cup until his coming again when he will both eat and drink with us at that marriage supper of the Lamb prior to his return in glory, for as the Scripture reads, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb .(Revelation 19:7-10). Our duty as Christians has ever been to proclaim the word of God to others, and to live in obedience to God’s will for us. But in order to do those things we must possess a proper understanding of whom we are worshiping and how we are to worship. We ought be discerning with regard to our worship, our work and our walk in this life. If God is our helper, then we ought to lean on him and trust in him. The faithless, the foundering, the disobedient, and the hypocritical are those who will hide behind the mask of Christianity and use it for their purposes; while the true and faithful Christian will don the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:11), keeping himself under control and in the Spirit, living and even dying in obedience to God’s word. To be born-again of the Spirit means to live for Christ and to accept him as Saviour and Lord. We who have been regenerated in him believe that he is that living bread; we believe that he is our good Shepherd; we believe that he will come again in glory to judge both the quick and  the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. (Nicene Creed).

Jesus Christ came from a city which meant “house of bread.” He came to bring us more than the simple sustenance of our earthly bodies, but the eternal sustenance of God. He came that we might have life and in abundance. He came to give us more than a morsel for the furtherance of our earthly existence, but to give us hope of life everlasting in his coming kingdom. Thus to partake of him who is our “staff of life” is to take into ourselves the life-giving Messiah. For all who will believe on him as their Saviour shall receive his free gift of life everlasting.

It is my prayer for each of you, that you will come to the Lord’s Table today and partake of Jesus Christ as that living bread, and that prior to your coming, you would confess your sins and trespasses to God in his name. It is not enough to attend church, sing a hymn or two and them walk away without seeking him who came to make us whole and to bring us into the beloved. We must honor our Lord out of a willing, broken and contrite heart that daily seeks his pardon. God has called us to himself and we have answered in the affirmative, so then let us do all that he has commanded in his word written that we might receive God’s peace and be blessed in every good word and work.

Let us pray,

Father, we thank you for giving us your Son, Jesus Christ: who is that living bread which came down from heaven and was offered for the life of the world; that in our turning and repentance in his name, we have received eternal life, and have also been made coheirs with him in glory; for it is in his name that we offer up these our imperfect prayers. Amen

Have a blessed week!
Bryan+

 

Rev. David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama

We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian.

Whitsunday - Pentecost

 

Am I A Spiritual Person or Not?

Pentecost today May 24, but the real issue is "Am I am spiritual person or not?" ACTS 2

   Today I want to ask some deeply spiritual questions because somehow in our day these questions are in the background. What is the foreground? It depends on who you ask of course. Some struggle with age related issues and we can identify with that. Some have issues related to what kind of worship should we be having in our culture and others just are not engaged in a deep way perhaps in some of the questions I want to ask today. Of course, we always have the foreground issues of the look of the building (which is important), etc....and who is coming or not coming to hear the preaching of the Word and receive the Holy Communion. These may be good things to think about today. We should do that.

   As we look to the Scriptures today you will see in the liturgical calendar where we are. If Luke wrote Acts, and I believe he did, we should go back to the end of Luke for our first question today. After the Ascension of Jesus we read, "And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jersusalem with great joy: ⁵³and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen." (Luke 24:52) Jesus had directed them to "tarry in the city of Jersusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49) So that was where they were together.

    First I note that they were worshipping Him. That too should be the focus of our Christian lives. That is why we come to the church. We should do this as a group. Of course we do this too as individuals in our personal lives. We may say, "Lord, help me."  That in some form is worship. We are attributing to God a character of worthiness which is what the word means. Somehow churches can get this reversed. What? Reverse what?  Reverse the order. Church /fellowship/ etc.....can be more about me than about God. Well it should be both. But it should start with God.  If it does not, then we have reversed the order.

     I would submit that our world has reversed it. We can be joyful as were the disciples and early Christians in our worship. It is not a rote exercise. It is where Christ is. (AM/ PM prayer and the Sacrament of Holy Communion) He said this. Some think, do it my way and my way or the highway. Well that is not worship. That is meism.The Holy untrinity of me, myself and I. We have come together to worship.

 It is not about the building (although a nice building is helpful), or the one leading the services (pastors and elders or Bishops as well), for they are but human instruments. In a unique way we believe that God has ordained the church, the fellowship, the assembly for the purpose of gathering to worship Christ.

      One day everyone will bow the knee to Christ. "God has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow." (Philippians 2:10)  page 37 of the 1928 BCP for the Church is helpful to us. I was looking at another Book of prayer, and found this prayer in it:

"O ALMIGHTY God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone; Grant that by the operation of the Holy Ghost, all Christians may be so joined together in unity of Spirit, and in the bond of peace, that they may be an holy temple, acceptable unto thee. And especially to this Congregation present, give the abundance of thy grace; that with one heart they may desire the prosperity of thy holy Church, and with one mouth may profess the faith once delivered to the saints. Defend them from the sins of heresy and schism; let not the foot of pride come nigh to hurt them, not the hand of the ungodly to cast them down.  And grant that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; That so they may walk in the ways of truth and peace, and at last be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting; through thy merits, O blessed Jesus , thou gracious Bishop and Shepherd of our souls, who art , with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen."

So far we ask, "Are we worshipping Him or something else?"

Secondly the day of Pentecost is about unity in Christ.  "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place." Accord comes from a greek word which means “one mind.”  Here we are talking about unity of course. Again the letter to the Philippians talks about this too. After commending the Christians there for their "fellowship in the gospel", the Apostle rejoices that, "Christ is preached" 1:18, and then he strongly encourages them in 2;1 "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded having the same love, being of one accord , of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

  Many languages came together in Jerusalem on that day of Pentecost, 50 days after Easter, and despite the differences they heard each other clearly. This was a miracle of course for the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit. "For they had become fresh wine-skins, they had been renewed by the grace of holiness, so that when they were filled with the new wine, that is , with the Holy Spirit, they spoke with fervour in every tongue; and by this spectacular miracle they foreshadowed the spread of the Catholic Church through all nations speaking every tongue." A Reading from a sermon of an unknown African author of the 6th cen. From the Fathers to the Churches- Daily Spiritual Readings,  ed by Brother Kenneth CGA

What have we done with unity?  Do we strive for it in Christ or is something else more important?

And lastly, what are we here for? I like what my great-grandfather said on this, "The only reason why those born again of the Spirit are left in the world is that they may be His witnesses." Dr Campbell Morgan.  Peter preached to the crowd on the day of Pentecost, "standing with the eleven" 2:14 "I will pour out of my Spirit....this Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses." 2:32 They heard the message then gladly, and " there were added unto them about three thousand souls." 2:41

How did they witness to Christ? 2:42 tells us "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers....praising God, and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

These are spiritual people witnessing filled with the Holy Spirit as they believed the good news of being saved into the kingdom of God. This is the same message we have. Back to basics. Whatever we do here and with each other, worship, unity and witnessing must be there. If we do other things that is fine of course but they must have the goal of worship, witnessing and unity in Christ. Otherwise we are just in a building, saying hello, and doing whatever we want to. My mind keeps going back to that hymn we sing  ,  1940 hymnal-780, "Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and cornerstone, Chosen of the Lord and precious, Binding all the church in one: Holy Sion's help forever, and her confidence alone."

Last question, "Are we witnesses or not?" Are we a spiritual person first in our lives or not? Only we can know by our fruit...the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace and long-suffering (patient) with our encounters.

Someone asked me about what my legacy was and these questions are the good things I and all of us should be asking as we go around and about His business first. AMEN.

 David D. Mc Millan+,
 Pastor, & Chaplain (Major)
 US Army, ret.  

 AOC Worldwide Prayer List –

I have received updates from a few and those will be the first added to the list. Please send all prayer requests and updates to aocworldwide@gmail.com for future reports. If you would like to be removed from list just respond with remove in the subject line.

 Prayer Needed:

Yves Mera – Vascular Leucopathy was detected, stage 1; possible blood clot cartodid artery

Ryan – ex-muslim to be baptized – keep safe from Evil forces

Camella – Breast Cancer

Donny - hospitalized due to multiple strokes and inability to speak, pray for David and Anne, family who are helping him in recovery

Dan Fordice – pray for his family who are mourning Dan killed in a plane crash

Mike Gettinger – traveling to the Vietnam wall and family at home awaiting his return

Kristen – surgery went well, continue praying for Recovery

Yves Mera: A Vascular Leucopathy was detected, stage 1 and possible clot in the carotid - TBA

Betty Davis: stroke, hospitalization and praying for complete recovery

Deborah Johns – heart issues – pray for heart strength & strong blood oxygen levels for surgery

Ben Hancock – treatment for colon cancer

Rev. Geordie:  needs prayer for medical issues

Debbie Grimes: colon cancer - surgery

Man, who is a friend of many – Brain Cancer

Bobby Effinger – recovery from heart surgery and ongoing heart issues

Steven – recovering from surgery on scar tissue compressing his Spinal Accessory Nerve

Brannon – hospitalized due to chronic unknow source of muscle spasms – 3 year old

Rency – 2 year old suffering from RETTS Syndrome

Joseph Broddie – recurring throat cancer

David Williams – serious cardiac issues – pray for David and wife Sherie for coping with changes

Jack Williams – had to enter long term care due to vascular dementia – pray for wife Karen

Audrey Beebe – For the Family who are mourning her passing.

Colby Landry - cancer. Please pray for his wife, Leah and their family at this time of trial.

Persecuted Christians - subject to persecution and imprisonment for their faith.

Bobby Bryan - suffering with cancer and cardiac issues.

For an increase in the true faith in Jesus Christ here and across the globe.

USA – Leaders, citizens, military, first responders – President Trump & all Cabinet Members Safety

David – needing Hip transplant

Ophelia – crippling arthritis pain

Dennis Potrikus - fall with bad knees – recovering his rehab

Donna – ongoing radiation and Chemotherapy. Pray for successful remission

Roy – Bulging disc – upcoming surgery

Michelle – metastasized lung cancer – treatment stopped due to low hemoglobin- pray increase in

Dave – COPD – breathing issues – getting used to using oxygen – shortness of breath

Bryan and Lisa – adjusting to son moving away from home for ease of travel to employment

 

Extended Issues need continued prayer;

Laurie with long Covid Symptoms - Extreme exhaustion, heart palpitations, breathing problems and unstable blood pressures are constant worries causing depression to settle in.

Malcom Allred – Cancer Treatment

 Keep Praying for the following:

Shamu-health issues, Jan Jessup-neuro dementia, AOC USA, AOC Missions - Myanmar,
Harper-IBS,  Jim Sevier- God’s Peace, Linda – multiple myeloma, Donna-chemotherapy,
Alicia-caregiver, Sophie, Colin and Lori Beall – cancer, Malou – cancer, Archie- CHF,
Eloise, Janice, Katie, Bobby, Myra Cox, Faye Miller,

 The Fultz’s and Brocks – have returned safely and thank you for your prayers. Picture is in the ALPS

  

Our New Revised Church Crest thanks to Ryan Setlif