March Newsletter 2021
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INTERNATIONAL DIOCESE/ACNA Saint Peter’s Anglican Church MARCH 2021 FORWARD, ALWAYS FORWARD, EVERYWHERE FORWARD MONTHLY CALENDARST. PETER’S KEY MARCH GORDON T. GODLY 3 – Lenten Bible Study 7PM Zoom 1919 - 2021 4 – Study-Prayer Group 7AM Zoom Gordon Thomas Godly of Ft. Collins, CO, passed away 5 – Taize Prayer Service 7PM 6 - Teen Group 6PM Peacefully, early on February 1st, at home. He was 101 years old. Gordon was a remarkable man who lived an 7 – 3rd Sunday Lent 9 & 10:30 AM extraordinary life and he will be missed by his children, 7 – Catechism Class 6PM grandchildren, friends 10 – Lenten Bible Study 7PM Zoom and his parish church of St Peter’s. Gordon was born in Woodbastwick, Norfolk County, England in 1919. His 11 – Study-Prayer Group 7AM Zoom 13 - Teen Group 6PM education was interrupted by service in the British Army for seven years 14 - 3rd Sunday Lent 9 & 10:30 AM during World War II. He enjoyed regaling his family and friends with stories 14 - Catechism Class 6PM from his Army postings in England, North Africa and Australia. At the time of 17 - Lenten Bible Study 7PM Zoom his discharge in 1946 he was an acting major in the Intelligence Corps. After the war, he continued his studies at Birkbeck College, Univ. of London. He 18 – Study-Prayer Group 7AM Zoom 18 - Vestry Meeting 7PM on Zoom became a research chemist with an English company which eventually brought Gordon to New York with his wife and young family. A few years 19 – Zeteo Box Packing Church 1PM 19 - Taize Prayer Service 7PM later they moved to Matawan, NJ where he was a very active member of 20 - Teen Group 6PM Trinity Episcopal Church and served as a lay reader. He retired as a vice- president of Rich Art Color Corp. in Lodi, NJ. 21 – 5th Sunday Lent 9 & 10:30 AM At St Peter’s in 2008, he was 21 - Catechism Class 6PM recognized by Bishop John Guernsey for his fifty years of service as an Anglican Lay Reader. 23 – Fr. Jamie’s Birthday! He was predeceased by his wife Mary, the mother of his children, in 1994. 24 – Lenten Bible Study 7PM Zoom After his marriage to Antionette McGuire of Fort Collins and Pennington, NJ, 25 – Study-Prayer Group 7AM Zoom 27 - Teen Group 6PM he moved to Fort Collins with her. She passed away in 2019. In 2004 Gordon 28 – Palm Sunday 9 & 10:30 AM Svcs became a U.S. citizen. He is survived by three children and their spouses. 28 - Catechism Class 6PM A funeral service was held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church on February 13, 2021. May he rest in peace. PHOTO HAPPENINGS GRAYSON ISAAC HORLINGS- BORN FEB 18TH DEACON TOM PLACING ASHES ON THE FOREHEAD OF RON STOOPS DURING THE 9 LBS 7 OZS, 21 INCHES LONG! ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH. JOANN AND HARRY TAYLOR CELEBRATED THEIR 70TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY WITH A SPECIAL SERVICE ON FEBRAURY 24TH! A LARGE GATHERING OF OVER FIFTY PARISHIONERS AND FRIENDS GATHERED TO SHARE IN THE CELEBRATION AND LUNCHEON. FROM THE HISTORY FILE, GORDON GODLY NEW EXTERIOR LED SPOTLIGHTS ADDED ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AT RECEIVES COMMUNION FROM OUR OWN MAKE FOR A BRIGHTER CHURCH THE CHURCH ENTRANCE FOR BISHOP BILL ATWOOD IN ABOUT 2011. ENTRANCE IN THE EVENING! ADDED OUTSIDE CONVENIENCE. FROM THE RECTOR During the Lenten season, we are encouraged to take the time to reflect on what Jesus has achieved and repent of any known sin—something followers of Jesus ought to practice year-round. Repenting of a deeply held way of thinking and living can be hard to change even when we genuinely desire to live and love as Jesus calls us to. But there is a barrier to change that we must be aware of if we are going to become more like Jesus. In the book Immunity to Change, the authors say the most challenging problem concerning change isn't our will. "The problem is the inability to close the gap between what we genuinely, even passionately, want and what we are actually able to do." The authors are convinced (their research supports this) that the issue is we tend to think a technical solution (e.g., I will stop eating seconds to help lose weight) will resolve a problem. However, the real resolution is an adaptive one (e.g., decide not to be a people pleaser to turn down a second portion offered by family members at weekly extended family meals). Disciples of Jesus often try to resolve a spiritual issue with a technical solution when an adaptive change is necessary. For instance, a follower of Jesus is struggling to pray regularly. They decide to fix it and schedule times to pray more in their calendar. Nevertheless, if deep down they aren't certain God hears or answers prayer, it is improbable they will continue praying regularly. But there is hope! If we are willing to discover and apply biblical counsel patiently, we can address our spiritual problems with the Holy Spirit's help. Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp, in their book How People Change, point out that the pathway to change begins with identifying the hidden lies and idols in our lives. Then they encourage us to remember the Gospel and what it accomplishes by grace through faith in Jesus. In Christ, we are given a new identity and the potential to love God and others as Jesus did. Then by faith, we must learn what the Scriptures teach (replace lies with truth) about being new creations who the Holy Spirit has empowered to live as children of God. Over time our hearts are filled with love and hope as we live in this new relationship with God and embrace our eternal identity. God's goal for followers of Jesus is for us to change and become more Christlike. And even though we will struggle and never perfectly live and love like Jesus, our heavenly Father promises to complete the good work he began in us! That, is Good News, which gives us hope and keeps us motivated to keep making changes that will enable us to live more like Christ daily for God's glory! Grace and Peace, Rev. Jamie George CHARLES HENRY BRENT - MARCH 27TH During the Spanish-American War (1898), the United States acquired the Philippines in the western Pacific. In 1902, Charles Brent, at that time serving as priest in charge of a slum parish in Boston, was appointed as the Missionary Bishop of the Philippines. He arrived on the same ship with the new American Governor General, and later U.S. President, William H. Taft. As the new bishop he carried with him the unofficial but very real prestige of the American establishment. Bishop Brent could easily have confined himself to providing a kind of ecclesiastical "home away from home" for American officials, military personnel and others stationed in the Islands. He could have devoted himself chiefly to efforts to convert the Spanish influenced Roman Catholics whom the previous government had left behind. Instead, he directed his efforts toward reaching the non-Christians of the Philippines: the pagan Igorots of the mountains of Luzon, the Muslims of the southern islands, and the Chinese settlements in Manila. In all these areas, he made considerable inroads and established thriving Christian communities. He campaigned against the opium traffic and served on international commissions devoted to stamping out international narcotics trafficking. During World War I, he served as the Senior Chaplain for the American Armed Forces in Europe. Declining three elections to bishoprics in the United States in order to continue his work in the Philippines, he accepted a position in western New York. His experiences in the Philippines had aroused in him a strong concern for the cause of visible Christian unity. He died in Switzerland in 1929, being 66 years old. The following prayer, written by him, is widely used today: Lord Jesus Christ, who didst stretch out thine arms of love Upon the hard wood of the Cross, that all men everywhere might come within the reach of thy saving embrace: So clothe us with thy Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know thee to the knowledge and love of thee; for the honor of thy Name. TAIZE SERVICES MARCH 5th & 19th Two Friday evening Taize services will be held at St Peter’s this month on Friday, March 5th and Friday, March 19th at 7:00pm. The community of Taize in eastern France was founded by Brother Roger during World War II. At first the monastic community sheltered refugees and Jews fleeing the Nazis but as the war ended, more and more people flocked to the Taize community for its prayer and singing and its devotion to God. Taize has now come to mean a way of praying and singing that leads to meditation on the profound truths of scripture. The singing in Taize is simple and repetitive by design: while we sing simple words with simple melodies, our minds and spirits are free to ponder more fully what we are singing. Many of the Taize songs come from scripture and are meant to be sung in a ceaseless form of praise. Please join us for a contemplative evening of prayer, scripture, and song. REMEMBER ST PETER’S WHEN SHOPPING Set up your King Soopers card to be linked with St. Peters. 1. Go to www.kingsoopers.com 2. In the top right corner, click "Sign-in" then click "My Account".