A lot of people ask about Anglicansim, what the heck is this. Are the catholics, are the protestant, what are up with those clerical collars? Well let me start up by saying Anglicanism is a step child to protestant reformation and Luther... "Church of England and churches which are historically tied to it or have similar scriptural views, worship practices and church structures.  The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English Church. Adherents of Anglicanism are called Anglicans"  (www.wikipedia.org).  First off we use a three pillar system Scripture, Reason, and Tradition that make us quite unique amongst any Christians. In terms of structure we have a system made up of clergy and lay members that help run the church and a house of bishops. The anglican communion is made up of national Church's each with their own distinction that have a primate that has a primate that is either a Presiding Bishop or an Archbishop. No church has juristiction over the others, however due to history and developement we do have a first among equals primate the archbishop of Cantenbury where the first anglicans started which is in the Church of England. Secondly are we protestant or catholic, actually we are both. We do not view the pope as our head or purgortory or prayer to saints, but we also dont use all of prostentism either by any means. We are between the two polar extremes of Catholic or Protestant, kind of a middle ground. Their are many diffrent ways to define anglicans, but the two main ones are Anglo Catholic and Anglo Evangelical. Anglo Catholics lean more towards the Catholic side and views of the denomination while Anglo Evangelicals lean more heavily toward the protestant side and views of the denomination. While we may define our selves as one or the other, regardless of which we label ourselves as we are a mix of both. We are a liturgical church and use liturgical worship, meaning we follow a church calender and other things that liturgical denominations due. Now how do we do eucharist? Yes like Catholics and orthodoxy we do have a focus on Eucharistic worship. The Anglican view isnt as defined as the Catholic view (as we are mix in theological understanidng)=reflecting the essential comprehensiveness of the tradition. Some High church Anglicans, especially those considered to be Anglo-Catholics, hold beliefs identical with, or similar to, the Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. Low church or Evangelical Anglicans, expressing a view similar to that of the Reformed churches, deny that the presence of Christ is carnal or can be localised in the bread and wine. Instead, they believe that Christ is present in a "heavenly and spiritual manner" only, with the faithful receiving Christ's presence by faith. Their are also middle ground anglicans, and their are some more views. Now on the final issue is the Book of Common Prayer. The Book of Common Prayer is a book used by anglicans for church service, spirtual growth, and to define the denomination. This is to be used as an extra biblcal tool to be used with scripture (the Bible) and not to replace and yes we put the bible first in all maters of faith, over the Book of Common prayer. Hope that helps, God Bless. " Also, just to clear up some misunderstandings, Henry VIII did not "create" the Church of England simply because he wanted a divorce, nor because he was having an affair.  This is a common misconception, especially in the US.  The issues surrounding the Reformation go much deeper than that.  Also, the reigning monarch is not the "Head" of the Church, but by law, the "Supreme Governor," and has no jurisdiction outside of the UK.  The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate only of the Church of England and has no jurisdictional authority in any other Anglican province; he is not comparable with the pope in that way. " (Quote from King James, a yahoo answer user). God Bless !!

Tidus is often very busy telling us how one should behave and engage. A paraphrase of what he says is To teach what is consistant with sound doctorine; to be serious prudent and sound in faith love and endurance (it is a marathon, not a race). Let us not to slander others ourselves or anything in general, not to slaves to drink or more simply alcohol, teach what is good, to be self controlled, models of good work and integrity to show gravity and sound speach. We are told by the prophet to do these things not to win our salvation but as a responce to God's grace and murcy, God loves us enough to save us from our misteps, misbehavoir, sin, and our disasters continually! God loves us and respects us enough to not save us simply by making us puppets and pulling our strings or manipulating our actions. No, he has given us free will so we may chose, because Love is a choice and beyond just emotional aspects and without free will one can not really love. Instead God gives us amazing gifts and freedom and redemption. Any single one of these aught to be enough to bring us to our knees on their own, also to become people who do their best to show God that we respect and thank him for such Grace by trying to follow him and his Son to the best of our capabilities. It is our destiny to be faithful stewards to become more Christ centered. We are called to serve God not just because Must, we are called to serve God cause we can and this is the greatest of all honors, Amen.

This is a good message but a little late, so good I will repost nec Advent. I love Advent and the seasons of the Church, it is so helpful and it is one of the reasons I left the Baptist denomination (which is a good demonination that follows Christ, just no the one for me). I love being of the Anglican denomination, emersing ourselves in the seasons of the Church gives us a chance that we are part of the created order, it isnt all about us, and no not everything does revolve around us.  While we have free will we are not in control of it all. This allows us and gives us the chance to allow us to remember who we are are and who we are for. We should wait and do our best to remember what the real meaning of this season is about. As much as I enjoy the Christmas stories of Frosty, Santa, Rudolph, Jack Frost, and what not It is important to remember these are not central, just entertainment. It isnt even about family or giving to others (though these are good secondary themes and Christian Ideals). Lets try to observe Advent because they help us remember who and who we are. It helps us remember why we do the work we do whether, political, social, church, work,  or otherwise-we do it because we are following God and he is leading us to use our talents in these areas to bring Glory to him and his kingdom. Advent is like that, the church's seasons, they are for our benefit not to limit us or chain us to a strict set of rules. Now if you want to forget all about advent season and go home and decorate your house prematurally for Christmas if you want to put a baby Jesus dall in the manger now and set in the stable surrounded by blow up frotsty the snowman and blinking light reindeer you can do that! As far as I can tell God isnt going to be offended or put off or hurt. Your certainly not going to hurt anyone else either. Its your own business and certainly absolutley none of my buisness. None of these events mean you follow Christ less or you shall not have eternal life, but  my respeoncibilities is places under my domain such as my house or church remain provide an oasis for those who wish to avoid the superhyped comercialized premature Christmas...You can decorate your house, walk the streets, you cna open a newspaper, turn on your tv and find lots of this version of Christmas. However some places in our lives, some of us want and oasis from all of that, where we remember what this season is really about, the anticapation, waiting, and celabration of the birth of the divine  among us. May you have a blessed Advent whatever way you choose to spend it, a Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year.

Around Christmas Time the message often can get blurred, so as followers of Christ lets put it together once agian. Lets take a look at the 22 chapter of Mathew. In this passage a lawyer comes up to Jesus and begins to test the Teachings of Jesus. He ask Jesus which laws in the comandments are the greatest. Jesus had said you Shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. The second is like it you shall love your neighbor as your self. On these two  commandments hang all the laws and the prophets. Love the Lord your God with all your mind-When your in love you know you want to know and understand your signifigant other, your beloved.  The utter feeling of romance and young love and overwhelming joy stage of a relationship is lovely and important, but it is simply unsustainable by itself. We must come to know the beloved, otherwise we only love the reflection of ourselves, perhaps a cardboard Cutout-Since we can never fully understand others (until Heaven) we must put forth our best effort with some success, we must bend our minds and allow him to reshape them to know his works, learn what others have seen and understood, make what sence of it we can. Otherwise we only worship a false god made in our image instead of worshiping the True and Living God.  We must also love the Lord our God with all our heart=We all know that without Love we cant know God or serve his people, we Know that worshiping God is a matter of the heart as well as the head. We need to love the Lord our God with all our soul, now this is a  tough one----Sometimes we can be so busy with the mind work of learning to know and love God the heart work of compassion and service gives little time to sit quietly and let God claim our souls. That magical and mystical surrender, that quite contemplativeness-it can be hard to do this in modern multitask if your not busy your lazy modern life styles but it is something we are all called to do and who we are called to be. Advent calls us to take this time to tend to and check up on our souls health, to be still and allow God to do his job. If we can at least in partiality do this and love our neighbors as our selves, then all else will fall into place. Hear o Israel the Lord our God is the only God and we shall shall worhsip the Lord our God with all heart, mind, soul, and strength. Love your neighbor as your self, if we do these things we shall change the world aroud us and instead of this world resembling hell, it will be a glimpse of how great Heaven is. Happy and Blessed A

I think this is the time to look back at all those who came before us, from the Magi to other Modern Christians or followers of Christ. All those who came before who through God passed on this new light who have carried it on too us through the holy spirit and thoe who will (if Jesus hasnt come back yet) pass it on long after we are gone and have gone home! Joy to the world The Lord has come Let earth receive her King Let every heart prepare Him roomAnd heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing And heaven and heaven and nature sing!!!! May you set time aside to reflect on the baby born in the manjor that is the hope and joy of the world, its saviour and the son of God, God incarnate Jesus Christ. He that takes away the sin of the World. Jesus the Carpenter from Galiee, Jesus of Nazareth, the Pricne of Piece, God incarnate sinking really low for our sakes being born of the Mary and the Spirit. Overcoming the world, so we may live again and have a relationship with God the Father. May you have a blessed, joyful, peaceful, and safe Christmas!!!

Advent is a time of waiting. but it isnt the time to sit around and wait for others to do something. Advent is the time of expectation  and hope , as well looking forward to the Birth of Christ among us and this allows all of creation (particularly human) to have access to God. This is also a time for us to remeber all those who suffering across the world-this is a time to share Christmas with those who have less or even more than you have (share the Gospel message and gifts and love and Frosty the Snowman), Winter is a time where everything looks very dead,  where the days get shorter and the nights get signifigantly longer. and we usually sleep longer as well which is supported by science. Let the Holy Spirit teach you each night, continue to learn about thte Knowledge and Love of God and how the son partook in our humnaity to teach us and to die for the forgiveness of ours sins.

I think this might be a good message for a time
like this as we remember those who died senseless and violently in CT. We
reflect on lives lost, families broken, and hopes and dreams dashed. Yet we wait
in hope of hearts that will learn, and grow, and change so no nation will study
war. Through God and his unending love we can change hearts that seem completely
closed to learning about piece and love. Gods will for the world is that all
  people will forge tools of peace out of peace out of former weapons, where
people no longer, where people longer threaten or wager violence. Were all the
worlds people shall sit under their own vines and fig trees and no one shall
make them afraid. Take these words of Micah to heart, pin them on your fridge.
When you share the love of God and show it in your actions, see if the world
around you starts to change and is starting to become closer to the place God
wants it to be. The Hebrew word for God's will for peace and love is Shalom.
  Peace is only possible when our hearts are aligned with God's desire for peace
and love. That is the word that God has spocken.  When disaster strikes it can
be hard to find God in your life. But I assure God is always their. Our hearts
are shattered when we see the bodies around us during disaster. The ancient
question often arises to why would a loving God let this happen. The truth is
life is dangerous and unpredictable. The truth is though is the importance of
  life is what you do with, God and what you do with life is what gives it
meaning. Sure you can be famous, but what is most important is God and helping
others. When you pursue God's love then life will no longer seem so dark and you
can share the love of God with others, then you will see transformation in the
life of those around you as well. God doesn’t cause suffering or hate anyone.
Gods love is so powerful. God is present in disasters and known more intimately
in time of disasters. He is holding your hand every step of the way. Above all
we become more human and longing for God in our life in the mist of disaster.
The ability to suffer together and feel compassion with one is one of the gifts
of being fully human and being created in God’s image. He too longs for justice
and love and created us to love one another and to live full lives. We can only
respond by standing together and helping each other and this is by God’s design.
We can pray and hear and see the answer of Gods prayer. Those who truly follow
Christ have compassion flowing out from within. Suddenly strangers become
brothers and sisters, we become one people as God had originally intended in his
name. Hungry and thirsty sisters and brothers become our priority as they don’t
even have a place to lay their head. Compassion is a gift that changes the
world, and no one was more compassionate than the son of God Jesus Christ, who
died for the world, so those who trust and believe in him may have a
relationship with God and the world might be saved through him.

Peace be with you my brothers and sisters in Christ. Today we will be talking about the birth of Christ and Christmas-as well as the message of Tidus! Tidus says something along the lines of : The grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all who seek it-However suprising it may seem from the current world the truth is God creates a mysterious creation that was intended for paradise, yet all have fallen short of the Glory of God, yet has  gave us a way back to him-In this world were so many yearn for God's feeling of peace and unending love and security, IN this world where some have though that God has forsaken us, yes here in this world the grace of God has appeared 2000 yrs ago and is still here this day and forever more-Not just for certain individuals, but for anyone who choses to follow the Good Shepard, for you.-Yes for you who have the weight of this crazy world upon you, yes you that are trying to meet the expectations of others, for you worrying about the uncertainty the future brings, for you wondering if your worthy. Yes for you and anyone who accepts it the grace of the loving and true God has appeared bringing salvation, not just for you or me but for all, and when I say for all yes I mean for all salvation has come in the wonder of God bending low and taking human form for our sake, wtih skin as frail as ours, in the mystery and miracle of Christ's death and reserection for all, in the power of the Gospels proclamations and truths, God the Fathers  goodness and loving kindness has appeared in the son/our saviour Jesus. So I say with angelic messengers (angels) and baffled and humble shepperds I hope we all join in and sing Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth Peace among those he favors. Lets go tell it on the mountain and over the hills and everywhere that the humnle Christ was born, in a lowely manager the Word became Flesh. Have a blessed Advent and a merry Christmas, God Bless Amen!!!!!

Peace with you from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. I great you and share with you these words of Isaiah the prophet: How beutiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who anounces a peace above all human peace, the Good News of Salvation, When Jesus was born unto Mary and by the Holy Spirit, angelic voices broke the still calm of a Judean day and life and went to sing and proclaim on this very day in the City of David a saviour is born for you, and His name is Christ the Lord- Gods promised one, our Lord glad tidings of great joy, common sheppards where the first and the heardest hearalds of the promised saviours arival- Then and today the birth of Jesus fills ever corner of this earth that he created with joy this season and every season-Admitidly in America the commercial clatter and mess and cultural distractions of the season seem to sometimes overcome the angels songs and the sheppards. but the amaizing and majestic message of Gods salvation can not be silenced, its joy and amazing transformation just as relevent as two thousand years or so prior. Some lament that some people ignore the message of the Gospel, the Good (Greatest) News.--But in this season so many  Christians or followers of Christ join in the love of  God-Jesus Chist-God incarnate. So lets break out those songs, a few may shush you or tell you that aint politically correct just as those who latter on tried to silence Jesus and his message of Gods revolutionary mercy and saving Love and Grace-even to the point of public exection via crucifiction- but that didnt work know did it!!!! If so then it gives you all the more reason to enter into commotion and clutter to let go of fears and inabitions, let us all join the angels in singing and the sheppards in exulting with unshamed joy. Jesus the saviour is born. Together as the body of Christ we sing with joy and proclaim the Good News that saves and changes the world. Have a blessed advent and merry Christmas!!!!God Bless.

Classes are ending this week at my university and all of are rushing to finish final projects and studying for finals, we all are begining to have a sigh of relief. This week our fellowship is having a Christmas party, and end of the semester hang out, and a final meeting for this semester between E-board members to discuss the upcoming semester. Now we all thinking about going home doing all the Christmas shopping and the cake, cookie, and candy making, the menu planning, the wraping and shipping, all the things just about everyone is doing. It is almost Christmas time and if we are lucky it is controlled chaos, instead of out of countrol chaos that affects most of us at this time. This is the  nature of the modernized Christmas with all the commercialization, now matter how much we try to hunker down and focus on  the birth of Christ during advent, the reality is by this time in the season we are all starting have all the comercialized parts of Christmas coming down on us and life is getting chaotic. Take a breath, this doesnt mean you Love God less, I enjoy frosty and Christmas trees as much as the next person but we should be careful to try and focus on what is most important. During the upcoming weeks we are all trying desperately to get to all the stores (hopefully in a civilized manner and not elbowing people), dealing with crowds trying to get the last minute things done, as your doing all that find the time or make just a little time at least for yourself, a little time to sink back in to that space with Jesus, to remember who paid the price, to remember who was born to a virgin, to remember who you are and who you ares. and why you live for him. I think you will definelty find it pays off, as God is most important and we are celebrating the gift that will save and bless the whole world, the one who comes and takes away the sins of the world, the Christ, the messiah, the savouir, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of God, born in a lowely manjor, God willing to take place in our humanity, sinking really low, beocoming low, investing in us, putting in all the chips, loving us. A message of God in his riches becoming poor for our sake, stooping really low, investing in us, this is TRUE LOVE!!!! I pray that all of you out their and for myself we are able to stay focused at this time of chaos, that the grace of God fills us with peace in the midst of all the chaos. God Bless, Amen.