Volume 6, Issue 21 Lent 2013A.D.

Mrs. Sagayam paying homage at the Sanctuary of Golgotha Photo by Fr. Andrew Sagayam Editorial Holy Season of Lent is a time of bringing our souls home to God: Ponder- ing on SIN and REDEMPTION by Bishop Edmund Jayaraj, a reprint of an article by Bishop Charles Gore, the Anglo Catholic Bishop from the early 19th century that reverberates even in 2013, The need for Confession from the Holy Cross Publications, The Pilgrimage of Fr. Andrew and his wife Alphonsa to Holy Land, the great article on Anglican priest George Herbet by Canon Patric Comerford of Dublin, and guest articles. Don’t miss out the “C’mon man” - how God is frustrated with our conduct and our wandering away like lost sheep. Of course our heartfelt welcome Fr. Luca and Elisa Pero from Italy into the HCCAR and the remembrance day celebration at St. Mary’s in Venezuela. Great articles that make for wonderful Lenten readings. Hearty welcome to Fr. Andrew and Alphonsa Sagayam, Padre Luca and Elisa Pero. May the Lord grant you faithful ministry in His church! Fr. Rafael Carbajal renovated the crucifix at Corpus Christi Anglican Church. The image speaks of his passion for Christ through his masterful painting of the corpus. “Come closer to God and He will come close to you” (James 4:8) during this Holy Season of Lent.

See how much joy one can bring through Facebook on a snow day! +Leo: Kansas City had two feet of snow. Mareus Jimenez: “Bp. Leo Michael are these the 2 feet of snow you got in KC?” Holy Trinity Anglican Seminary welcomes you!

As per the recommendation of the Synod of 2011, we have the rendering of the Missalette with commentaries for all our church use. More visitors friendly in two colors explaining different parts of the Holy Mass accord- ing to the 1928 Book of Common Prayer and the American /Anglican Missal. Let us learn it so that we can help newcomers cherish the Holy Mass. Expect its arrival along with the print edition of Koinonia.

Join the Morning and Evening Prayer call during this Lent. Wake up with God. You can join the prayer conference in Holy Trinity Anglican Seminary (HTAS) is owned and adminis- the rhythm of daily morning and evening trated by the Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite of the diocese of Holy prayer. We have dedicated clergy and pos- Trinity and Great Plains. It’s location in Kansas City, mid-America makes tulants faithfully hosting the prayer call travel easy to meet the campus schedule. It forms part of a long tradition daily at 7:00 am and 7:00 pm central time. of the Holy Catholic Church of Anglican Rite and continues this important Ask your clergy for the phone number. work of evangelization of the Kingdom of Christ in the United States of America and beyond its mission territories. With the advancement of communications, Holy Trinity Anglican Seminary will offer online and on campus training for its students. Holy Trinity Anglican Seminary firmly believes that Good Formation will ensure FRUITFUL Ministry. Keeping in mind the Great Commission of the Lord, HTAS will train its candidates in strong Scriptural foundation, Sacramen- tal worship in the Apostolic Tradition as enunciated in the conservative Anglican Tradition. With qualified faculty and commitment to the cause of priestly formation, Holy Trinity Anglican Seminary is set to impart the traditional Anglican orthodoxy even in the emerging social and pastoral challenges. The seminary will also offer courses for lay students as well. In the Koinonia masthead, the circle with the cross in the center symbol- The Seminary primarily serves the Holy Catholic Church Angli- izes the paten and the diverse elements which form a whole. The Mosaic represents the great cloud of witnesses and the church tradition. The red can Rite while students belonging to other denominations are welcome to in the letters represents the blood of Christ with the font comprised of indi- participate in our program of study and reflection. The Holy Trinity Angli- vidual pieces of letters that are not joined until the blood unifies them. Koi- can Seminary will soon be accredited with a view to conferring the Bach- nonia is the official publication of the Anglican Province of the Holy- Cath elor’s Degree in Theology. olic Church-Anglican Rite (HCCAR) aka Anglican Rite Catholic Church. Holy Catholic Church pays special attention to the formation of It is published quarterly at St. James Anglican Church, 8107 S. Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. Phone: 816.361.7242 Fax: 816.361.2144. her ministers. Church directives require that candidate to the priesthood Editors: The Rt. Rev. Leo Michael & Holly Michael, Koinonia header: Phil undergo a minimum of three years devoted to an intense and specifical- Gilbreath; email: [email protected] or visit us on the web ly priestly formation. These directives are implemented at this seminary, at: www.holycatholicanglican.org Cover picture: Golgotha by Fr. Andrew with particular emphasis on the Anglican traditions of the Holy Catholic Sagayam. Opposite: The Passion byHOLBEIN, Hans the Younger 1524-25 Church. Koinonia Page 2 OF SIN AND REDEMPTION - REFLECTION Bishop Edmund Jayaraj, Missionary Bishop of Indian Diaspora, HCCAR he Bible from the begin- Scriptures but rather enhanced and elevated their true understand- ning till the end calls man ing in the hearers. Jesus promised salvation or eternal life to all who to submission to God’s Will repent, confess, amend and intend to lead a new life of loving God and to a life of righteous- and their neighbors as He Himself did. T This Jesus the Christ bore the sins of the whole world in ness. A life that is right with God and his neighbor without distinction. God’s his Body and died on a tree. By His death for the sins many Jesus Law was communicated orally, placed offered a pure, holy, reasonable and living sacrifice which is pleas- in conscience, written in the stone ing to the Father. This sacrifice is not substitutionary but representa- tablets through Moses, and finally put tive. Because Jesus offered this sacrifice as a representative of man- in the inward parts and written in the kind and not a substitute for any of them. Our actual sins were not heart. God promises life and blessing transferred to Jesus nor His righteousness transferred to us. There if you obey Him and live righteously. can be no communion of holiness with uncleanness, righteousness He guarantees blessing and curse if you with evil or light with darkness. Jesus said and we hear at Mass, disobey and live unrighteously. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy-laden and I will This call to submission and obedience has gone out in give you rest.” He did not say he will give you salvation but rest. every generation beginning with Adam. Led by Adam people After availing of rest for a while you once again get up and continue in every generation failed to carry on your burden to submit to God and live caused by your sin. You righteously. So in Adam do so until every sin has all died. No longer did been confessed, pen- grace rule. Grace depart- ance performed by living ed. Hard labor, disease, works and fruits worthy sufferings and death ruled of repentance. over man. Salvation is not in- The cause of stant. It is a long and hard man’s predicament is sin struggle. Many times you which is the result of self- will fall and get up by the will, self-love, self-depen- process of repentance. St dence and self-worship. Paul said, “Sin is ever be- Alienated from God man fore me.” One has always ran into hiding. He broke to be in a state of repen- communion with God. He tance. “Work out your began to feel guilty. As own salvation with fear every Anglican prays, “we and trembling.” have no health in us.” He What next? began to be ruled by sinful Our church provides passions. A Redeemer was you with a method and needed who will save him supplies the equipment from the clutches of sin, to respond to God’s call infuse grace and put him to obedience and righ- on the road to salvation or teousness. Repentance, glorification or sanctifica- confession, forgiveness, tion or divinization which amendment, obedience is becoming god by grace and righteousness all the and adoption, his original days of your life. Repen- destiny. tance is suggested by the A Redeemer Fathers to be accompanied by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is The All-powerful, King and Supreme Judge of all is very fitting to do these things in this season of Lent by examining also merciful and compassionate who does not desire the death your conscience through the commandments and test if there is any of a sinner but that should forsake his sin and live. He sent His sin both voluntary and involuntary that should be confessed. only Son Jesus Christ who is born of a woman, lived a righteous Another gift the Lord has given us is the Blessed Sacra- life, completely obeyed the commandments and thus fulfilled ment where Jesus feeds us with the Living Bread. “Unless you eat the Law. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He calls people this flesh and drink this blood, you shall not have life within you.” of every generation to obedience and righteousness. “Repent, Nourished by His Sacred Body you will be strengthened day by the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” He explained the Law and day by the Spirit of Christ until you join Him in His mystical body the Prophets in such a way that the disciples on the way to Em- without losing your own unique individuality. This shall take place maus exclaimed, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us when He ex- finally when the Lord returns to judge both the quick and the dead. pounded the Scriptures?” He did not add to nor subtract from the Koinonia Page 3

talk of “education” and “culture,” as if it would remove all the troubles of life, you would suppose that many people now SIN AND hold this same opinion. But it is false and repugnant to the plain tacts. Of course there is a great deal of ignorance in the world, and many of the wrong things REDEMPTION that are done are done in mere ignorance, ignorance Bishop Charles Gore’s Creed of Christian that is hardly, if at all, culpable. Thus truer knowledge would remove a great deal of the evil of the world, Corpus Christi Image painted by Fr. Rafael Carbajal and the man is a fool who makes light of the value of Photo: Annette Petty Lay Corpus Christi Anglican good education. For example, years ago, there was Church,Rogers AR a great deal of religious persecution Catholics would burn Protestants, and Protestants Catho- Thy spirit weighs the sins of men, lics, and think that they were doing God service. Thy science fathoms all their guilt This, we may say, was due largely to ignorance. Thou sickenest heavily at Thy heart, It needed only knowledge of the true principles And the pores open blood is spilt. of our religion to let good men see that such a way of dealing with religious opinions which And Thou hast shuddered at each act. they believed to be wrong, was not at all the And shrunk with an astonished fear way of our Lord. Thus ignorance, I say, is the As if Thou couldst not bear to see source of a great deal of evil, and good education The loathsomeness of sin so near. will do away with this. But it will not get to the root of the matter. Sin is not ignorance. ow can we have a new Once again, there is in the world, beyond all manhood ? In fact, we can- question, a great deal of moral poverty and weak- not, except in Jesus Christ. ness of nature. Men are born with some moral disease, He alone is the New Man. He some criminal tendency, some weakness of will. This alone is man without sin. From is a question of more or less: for all men are by nature HHim alone is there new birth. He alone can give, in more or less inclined to evil in some form or another. truth and reality, what Plato and Carlyle demanded. This is what is called “original sin.” It is the inherited Born of a Virgin, a new creation, true man but new result of the wrong doing, the weakness and wilfulness man, He only can give us human nature without and ignorance of those who have gone before us, back sin. “ He taketh away the sin of the world.” to the very beginning of our race. This fault or taint of But what is sin, and how does He take it our nature belongs to sin, and is the result of sin. But in away ? Ah ! This is a big question, but we have the sense in which sin means personal guilt it is not sin all of us the most practical and direct interest in of our own, for it is not our own fault. It belongs to the trying to arrive at the answer. materials with which nature supplies us the “raw material The language and work of Jesus Christ “ we have to work with. It only becomes our fault’ when is full of the thought that mankind needs a fresh we give way to it and adopt it, or fail to take measures to start, a new birth ; or, in other words, that man- resist it. kind needs not merely to progress and be en- Sin proper is our own fault. It is, as St. John lightened, but to be redeemed, that is, bought says, lawlessness.(1 John 3.4) There is in the world no back out of the slavery of sin. sin but lawlessness, and no lawlessness but sin. Every- What is sin ? where in nature is the reign of law. The stars and planets There are people who tell us that all that in the solar systems move on their appointed courses ; human nature needs is enlightenment. The only the forces of heat and light and electricity, the various real evil is ignorance. This was the opinion of the forms of motion, go on each invariably by its own law ; wise Greek Socrates, and from the way people the life of each plant or body develops or fails accord- Koinonia Page 4 ing to law; law reigns over the development of all human faculties to himself, and so failing under trial and putting his nature out of and powers. joint. This is always and everywhere the nature of sin. Original But ... at the centre of man’s being there is a mystery. Man is sin is the result of actual sins. Actual sins are always acts of will a moral, and not merely a physical being. He can serve with a by which men reject God, try to be independent of God, and so free service as lawfully as stars or dumb animals, and by his free violate the law of their nature. choice. But he can also rebel. He can know the right and choose the wrong. He may be perfectly enlightened and yet wicked. He Sin is lawlessness. may set himself against God, against duty, against law. This is sin Jesus Christ came to perfect human nature, but He came in its proper sense. Sin is lawlessness. also to redeem it. He came to deal with human nature as sinful. He Sin can, within limits, disturb and disorder God’s world. came both to purge it from the guilt and taint of past sins, and also I say within limits, for man is not God, and God has not let go out so to restore and convert the wills of men that they might be free of His hand the government of the world. ln the end the universe from the commission of actual sins in the future. will reach the end God intended for it. The Kingdom of God will How is it then that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer ? come. But, by the way, and (so to speak) down to a certain depth, 1. Because He is the Second Adam. Born of a Virgin, man can disturb the order of God. He can introduce, he has intro- He has a perfect manhood, and a new manhood. In Him is a fresh duced, lawlessness into the world. creation of God, free from the baneful inheritance of past sins. He Look at society now ? Is it as God intended ? No. God is the perfect man, both perfectly developed, and flawlessly pure never intended the lust, the selfishness, the cruelty, the godless- from taint or stain. ness, which curse society to-day. The life of our big cities, the life 2. Because, as perfect man, He sets the perfect pattern of our country places, is a parody of God’s intention. of human life, and summons all men to conform to it. He sets the “ Never did any public misery pattern of what human life, free from sin, is Capable of being : the Rise of itself ; God’s plagues are grounded still pattern of purity, and love, and devotion ; and He summons all On common stains of our humanity. men to be as He is to follow His example, to obey His commands. And to the flame that ruineth mankind, But, as a true physician, He gauges the depth of the malady under Man gives the matter or at least gives wind.” which human nature suffers. He knows that the true pattern of life Or look back to primitive man. You see him dimly, in the mist of will stimulate in men the desire to resemble it. But he knows also the past, in a state of savagery. Was that God’s intention ? No ; no that they cannot be as He is without a radical change. “Except a more than the present condition of civilized man. It was a parody man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “Except of primitive simplicity, just as our pres- ye be converted ye cannot enter into the ent civilization is a parody of true civi- Look at society now ? Is it as God in- kingdom of heaven.” But what is this con- lization. tended ? No. God never intended the version and new birth ? How is it possible It has sometimes been said that lust, the selfishness, the cruelty, the ? How is it that “the Lamb of God” takes there is a conflict between religion and away the sin of the world ? godlessness, which curse society to- 3. Because He makes a per- science, because, according to science, day. The life of our big cities, the life man begins at the bottom, and gradually fect expiation for all the sins which men improves ; according to religion, man of our country places, is a parody of have committed, and sets flowing a foun- begins perfect, and then “falls” into cor- God’s intention. tain of spiritual renewal, of new life, to de- ruption, and grows worse. This is shal- Bishop Charles Gore - liver them for the future from the power of sin. But the meaning of these phrases will low talking. For, on the one hand, true Anglo Catholic Bishop 1908 science recognises that there is such a serve us for consideration in the chapters thing as degradation and deterioration that follow. among men ; it traces out its results in the destruction of great Meanwhile, I would summon all so- empires and splendid civilizations, and finds it also among sav- cial reformers, all persons who desire to improve human life, to ages who have gone backwards instead of forwards. On the other see to it that they learn the lesson of the one Great Physician, the hand, religion, where it knows its own business, never thinks of one true Redeemer of man. Education and sanitary reform and affirming that God made man perfect to start with. The Book of political change may do much for human life, but they will never Genesis suggests no such idea. When the human body was fitted remove the fundamental evil. That fundamental evil is sin. There to be the dwelling place of spirit, man, as a spiritual being, began is no removing of sin but by “ the new birth.” There is no one who his career ; he was quite imperfect ; he had everything to learn ; can give “ the new birth “ but He who first gave birth to man and he was simple as a child ; “ barbarous,” if you like. But he was to all things the Word and Son of God. The only true Redeemer not necessarily sinful. He need not have rebelled against God, and is the Creator also, who for us men, and for our salvation, was the laws of his own nature. Had he retained his innocence, we incarnate and was made man. cannot doubt that the history of human development would have Look at Him at the grave of Lazarus. “Take ye away the been more rapid, more glorious all ! how much more rapid and stone,” He says. 2 There are many stones which lie on the graves glorious than, in fact, it has been ; for, in fact, it has been at every of dead humanity, and prevent the free access of the life-giving stage tainted by sin. The first sin is described in the third chapter Word. There are social burdens and political evils ; there are bad of Genesis. That chapter, like its surroundings, is probably rather dwellings and bad drains ; there is ignorance and hopelessness. “ allegory than history. But it is inspired to teach us the deepest les- Take ye away the stones.” But when ye have done it the dead men sons of life. It is inspired to teach us the true character of sin. Sin will not live. The sick men will not be whole. These are necessary is not human nature. It is the violation of the law of human nature. reforms, but they are not the new life. Jesus only is the Resurrec- It is lawlessness. It is man refusing God and wanting to be a God tion and the Life. He only can say to the dead soul, “ Lazarus, come forth.” ><> Koinonia Page 5 WHY I MAKE MY CONFESSION Another witness to this Sacrament in the Episcopal Fr. Karl Tiedemann, OHC Holy Cross, West Park, NY Church is taken from the Office of the Ordination of Priests. On page 546 occur these solemn words: "Receive the Holy Ghost for the Office and Work of a Priest in the Church of God, now commit- HERE is only one really important reason why I make ted unto thee by the Imposition of our hands. Whose sins thou dost my confession, and that is because I am quite con- forgive they are forgiven; and whose sins thou dost retain, they are vinced that God wants me to do so. That is what mat- retained. And be thou a faithful Dispenser of the Word of God, and ters, -- God's will for me. I have come to this conclu- of His holy Sacraments; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, sion for several subsidiary reasons. and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." 1. In the first place, in the twentieth chapter of St. John, T 3. I make my confession because I believe that it is the part of which forms the Gospel for the Sunday after Easter (Prayer way which God has appointed for the removal of sins after Bap- Book, page 171) I read these words: "The same day at evening, tism. When I was baptized, I was made a child of God and grafted being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where into the mystical Body of Christ. One of the results of this union the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and with God by Holy Baptism was the forgiveness of all sin. But souls stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And do not cease from sin with Baptism. One of the exhortations very when He had so said, He shewed unto them His hands and his side. frequent in the early Church was the confession of sins. In later Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said days this exhortation was emphasized by canon law. It was an Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent ancient custom of the Church of England that all communicants Me, even so send I you, And when He had said this, He breathed should make their confessions at least once a year. But whatever on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose- the form of the exhortation to contrition, the real compulsion to soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever make one's confession arises from within the soul which has seen sins ye retain, they are retained." the glory of God and desires to possess it. After a careful and prayerful study of this passage, using 4. I make my confession because it is God's way of assur- the best commentaries, I have come to the conclusion that these ing the soul that it is sorry enough to receive forgiveness. One of words witness to the institution by our Lord of the Sacrament the privileges which come to us in the Church is that of assurance. of Absolution; and further, that He intended that this Sacrament In the Sacrament of Absolution, the priest who receives my con- should be used. Our Lord was lavish and prodigal of His love, fession is responsible for judging my contrition. The Sacrament is but He never gave useless directions. His provision is for all men, the way of assurance of forgiveness. A man once said, as he came that they should confess and be absolved. It is always dangerous to his first confession, "I've wasted too many hours wondering if I for any soul to count itself an exception to the general provisions had been forgiven, and I've decided no to waste any more, I'd like which God has made for the welfare of all His children. to make my confession." 2. The witness of Holy Scripture to the use of this Sacra- 5. I make my confession, because I believe that all true ment is taken up by the directions of the Book of Common Prayer. life is social in nature, that the Church is the Body of the baptized, A number of passages can be cited. On page 7 in the Order for and since no man liveth to himself or dieth to himself or sinneth to Morning Prayer, and on page 24, in the Order for Evening Prayer, himself, some form of apology is due the whole Body of Christ occur these words: "Almighty God... hath given power, and com- which is the Church. The question is sometimes raised, "Isn't it all mandment, to His Ministers, to declare and pronounce to His peo- right to go to Mass with certain sins in mind, and, when the words ple being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins." of Absolution in the Mass are recited, apply those words to the On page 87, the last line at the bottom of the page, you will find special sins in mind?" this statement: "And because it is requisite that no man should The answer is that "it's all right as far as it goes," but such come to the Holy Communion, but with a full trust in God's mer- limited contrition does not penetrate very deeply. An act of private cy, and with a quiet conscience; therefore, if there be any of you, contrition will always bring God's forgiveness for what are called who by this means [i.e., private contrition] cannot quiet his own "venial" sins, but there are also "mortal sins," - transgressions of conscience herein, but require further comfort or counsel, let him such magnitude that confession to a priest is needed. come to me, or to some other Minister of God's Word, and open No man liveth to himself and no man sinneth to himself. his grief; that he may receive such godly counsel and advice, as When a baptized soul sins, it hurts all the members of the mystical may tend to the quieting of his conscience, and the removing of all Body of Christ. Some form of public and social apology is due the scruple and doubtfulness." Church. The early Church answered this problem by having public On page 313 there is a very instructive rubric (or direction confession in the case of certain flagrant sins. Such forms of con- in italics): "Then shall [note the 'shall'] the sick person be moved trition were open to abuse. So the Church directed that confession to make a special confession of his sins, if he feel his conscience be made to a priest who would represent the Body of Christ. troubled with any matter; after which confession, on evidence of I go to confession because a mere private acknowledgment to God, his repentance, the Minister shall assure him of God's mercy and in the case of grievous sins, is not enough. I should tell the whole forgiveness." In the Prayer Book of the Church of England the Body of Christ of my contrition and desire of amendment. I ac- words of Absolution then follow: "Our Lord Jesus Christ, who complish this social act of sorrow by confession to a priest who hath left power to His Church to absolve all sinners who truly represents the Body of Christ in receiving my sorrow and in pre- repent and believe in Him, of His great mercy forgive thee thine senting the forgiveness of the Whole Body. offences; and by His authority committed unto me, I absolve thee 6. I make my confession because it is Christ's appointed from all thy sins, in the Name of the Father and of the Son way of accomplishing union between Himself and the penitent and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

Koinonia Page 6 soul. For a long time I delayed making my confession, because "I Do not wait until it is too late. There may come a time when a soul did not want any man to come between my soul and God." But I becomes so enmeshed in selfishness that it loses the vision of God have come to realize that all life flows to us through other people, which is the compelling motive to contrition. And there may come for we are all one Body in Christ Jesus. Just as physical life comes an hour when our physical senses are so dulled, as we lie upon to us through other people, so spiritual life is ours through the our bed for death, that it is well nigh impossible to make an act of Church and its ministers. contrition. Do not postpone your act of contrition until it is too late. It is true that in confession a man comes between the soul and God. 2. Secondly, you should make your confession because, But the important fact to realize is that the priest is present, not to after you have made your initial act of contrition and all your sins separate us from God, but to unite us to Him. We call for a physi- are washed away, there will still remain the “old man” with his cian in time of need, not to bother us, but to assist us. He takes his many temptations and problems and imperfections. If you need normal place in our lives in a natural way. So with the spiritual life. expert medical advice, you go to a physician who will both assist 7. Lastly, I make my confession because it is the way of you and observe the seal of secrecy of his profession. If you lack perseverance in sorrow for sin. The way to God is through ever- legal information, you go to a learned lawyer who will enlighten deepening contrition and the reception of grace to deal with the you and will respect your confidence. If you need spiritual advice, stubborn sin and the willful self which would keep me from Him. (and all souls need some guidance until the hour of death) you will find it awaiting you, under the seal of the confessional. WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE YOUR CONFESSION Every soul is beset by special temptations, fears,“complexes.” The spiritual life is not a trackless wilderness, it has a map all its own. While every soul I HAVE gone into some detail differs in its particular battles, there is a to explain why I make my confession, Whereas, in accordance with the Sec- science of the spiritual life which is yours but confession is good not only for my ond Exhortation attached to the Order of for the asking. Furthermore, - and this is so soul, good not only for the soul of the Holy Communion in the Book of Com- very important, that we here repeat this truth spiritually ill, but good for every soul, mon Prayer, it is requisite that any with a previously mentioned, - there is a special - good for your soul. Let us, then, con- troubled conscience shall resort to some power in God’s forgiveness thus received, sider why you should go to confession. which will enable the penitent soul to meet Here again, there is only one discreet and learned Priest, that by the its own particular temptations. Even if both really important reason. It is because ministry of God’s holy Word he may re- you and the confessor be ignorant of the confession is the divinely appointed ceive the benefit of Absolution, together real nature of your temptations, God will way to “get right with God.” God’s will with spiritual counsel and advice; such know. In Absolution He will supply grace to is all that matters. You ought to have this Ministry shall be exercised in any Dio- meet your real problems. The devoted soul blessed experience, first of all for God’s cese or other such jurisdiction of this welcomes this means of receiving spiritual sake. God created you because He loves Church only by Priests who have been power in this very perplexing life. you and desires you to be wholly His. in Orders not less than two years from 3. Then there is the problem of growth Humble confession is the way to God. their admission to the Priesthood, and in holiness. What the Church needs above Secondly, you should make your confes- possess the authority of the Bishop Ordi- all else is a great host of souls thirsting for sion for the sake of the mystical Body of holiness, - all on fire with the love of God. Christ, the Church of God. As we have nary of that jurisdiction either by virtue The confessional is thought before, “no man liveth to him- of the Office to which such Priests have one of the principle aids to the develop- self.” Just as a hurt in one part of a body been instituted and inducted, or licensed, ment of sanctity. It is not easy to make one’s causes discomfort to the whole person, as the case may be, or otherwise holding confession,and it is right and necessary that so one sinful soul causes great suffering that Bishop’s written Faculty. it should cost the soul much in the way of to the Body of Christ. For His Body’s HCCAR Canons Title XII #5 faith and humiliation. It must be so. It was sake, the Church, you should come into not easy for our Lord to redeem us and it full union with God. And thirdly, you should make your confession must cost us dear to enter into the work of redemption. for your own sake. It is the way of escape from sin and self; the 4. And, after we have learned the way of contrition and way of finding spiritual guidance in perplexing problems; the way the path of illumination through the use of the Sacrament of Ab- of growing in holiness; the way of happiness; the way by which we solution, then, having humbled ourselves, we are in a position to learn to help others. Let us examine these points in detail. try humbly to help others. For the end of the spiritual life is not 1. In the first place, you must “get right with God.” You only the salvation of our own souls. Salvation is the entering into a know there are things which keep you awake at night. The first social experience. It is true that it begins in the individual soul and step in the spiritual life, after we have seen the vision of love in souls are saved, not by nations, or by armies, but one by one. But the face of Jesus Christ, is to find release from the things which each soul, after it has found the way of redemption, realizes that dog out waking hours. We cannot put away “self” by “self.” To its vocation is to know and love and serve God, and to work along try to do so will only result in an increase of selfishness and self- with Him. Find your own salvation, face your own problems,grow centeredness.But we must get rid of our baser selves. Certainly in holiness, and when sin and self are met, turn away from your- the psychologists tell us that we must find release from the things self, forget yourself in working for your fellows. If this is what you which worry us and frighten us. The way of release is not by want, your first step is to get right with God. alcohol, or sin, or self-culture, or the mad rush of modern life, or This tract was published with permission of Bro, Robert OHC, the by suicide, but by confession of sin and reception of Absolution. Superior Order of the Holy Cross, West Park, New York

Koinonia Page 7 Journey to the Holy Land by Father Andrew Sagayam

Fr. Andrew & Alphonsa Sagayam in Jerusalem hen pertaining to my faith, I have always seen myself ered is that though all the various scriptures offer guidelines to be in the shoes of St. Thomas. Perhaps this is so because and do good, only the Christian Scriptures contained prophecies WI was born where St. Thomas is said to have preached spoken in the Old Testament that were fulfilled in the New Testa- and lived among the people to bring Christianity to them - the ment through the birth, life and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. land of India. Visiting the Holy Land was a blessing and a call for me; India has a variety of religious traditions and has given a dream come true. At the age of seven, when I first began to birth to many of the popular religions of the world. I have always serve in my parish, clothed as an altar server, I became conscious respected the writings of other religions and thus I wanted to know of three desires. First, to become a priest to serve the people with what made the Christian Scriptures different from the others. My honor and integrity. Secondly, to someday visit the Land that God pilgrimage to the Holy Land gave me the answer. What I discov- had chosen, the Holy Land where Jesus had walked as a human

Koinonia Page 8 being so many years ago. And thirdly, to follow in the footsteps of future. A thought prevaded my mind, as though something were Jesus, as a martyr. My first wish for priesthood became a reality in saying, “Your time starts now! Good luck!” 2002; the second in 2012. I am awaiting the third. These mixed feelings remained with me until we reached My companions for the pilgrimage to the Holy Land were the Sea of Galilee. As I stood there watching the fishermen catch- my wife Neenu Alphonsa and a group of Christians representing ing their fish, I almost expected to hear Jesus calling out to me to different rites. I was filled with emotion as I eagerly looked for- “Come, follow Me.” Instead, I heard a call from a fellow priest ward to the day I would place my feet, breathe the air and see the inviting me to come and eat “Peter’s fish” as these were commonly places where my God physically planted Himself in our universe. referred to. I was reminded that Peter had been a fisherman too and My imagination and joy were fulfilled when we reached God’s had spent many hours on the lake in his boat catching fish just as Chosen Land. Even though the landscape had probably changed the fishermen were doing today. over time due to natural disasters, invasions, civil destruction and On the morning of Christmas Day, we arrived in Jerusa- modernization, we could still experience within us, the rich history of God’s work and presence in his Holy Land. We began our pilgrimage in and through the country of Jordan, since much of the Old Testament history takes place in that area. On that first day, we travelled to Mount Nebo and stood with Moses as he viewed a Promised Land that he was forbidden to enter even though he had led the Israelites out of Egypt to this place. There on Mount Nebo, we visited the Christian memorial to the burial place of Moses. As I looked out from the top of the mountain, all I could see was a land of valleys and hills with little greenery. I wondered what Moses must have thought as he looked across the same ex- panse so many millennia ago. His vision must have been different from ours so I prayed there on the mountain that God would grant me the grace of understanding to see beyond my own human vi- sion. We left the mountain and continued by bus across Jordan and soon reached Israel. Our first stop was the Jordan River, where

lem and began walking the Stations of the Cross. My tears flowed as I thought about the last footsteps of Jesus. He had walked many miles during His ministry, calling people to be happy and peaceful. In return, He received just the opposite. As I walked along I noted a difference between the pil- grims and the local people. The eyes of the pilgrims were filled Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. It was fitting that our group with tears as they remembered what Jesus endured along the way immersed ourselves in the waters of the Jordan, renewing our bap- to Golgotha... In contrast, the locals walked along as though noth- tismal vows... perhaps as earlier pilgrims had done in the past. ing had ever taken place in their city. In this spot, I found myself experiencing many mixed The distance between the praetorium where Jesus was feelings. One becomes very aware of the political situation in the condemned and Golgotha, the Place of the Skull is not far, but the Holy Land and the possibility of terrorism and how a pilgrim like burden of grief that one feels as one walks in His footsteps is dif- myself could be affected, especially during the Christmas season. ficult to bear. Who cannot weep when one remembers that Jesus A sense of danger was not far from my mind and I wondered if I was already so weakened by the loss of blood from the scourging, was destined to die there. Even though I was ready to give my life that He falls three times along the way. What sorrow and help- for Christ, I was still filled with a sense of foreboding about the lessness pierces His mother’s heart as she sees her beloved Son

Koinonia Page 9 scarcely able to walk. How grateful we feel when we recall that Simon of Cyrene helped Him carry the cross and Veronica uses her veil to wipe the precious blood from His face. Despite His weakened condition, Jesus still thinks of others as He tries to console the women of Jerusalem. As we reach Golgotha, the horror of His crucifixion drains our own emotions as we see Jesus unceremoniously stripped of his clothes and thrown down on the cross. The soldiers stretch out his arms and anchor his feet. We can hear the hammers ring as the nails are pounded into his wrists and feet. Finally, we hear His last words as He commends Himself into His Father’s hands. Finally, when I arrived at the sepulcher where the crucified Jesus was placed after His death, I found peace.The empty tomb... the only one like it in the whole world! This was the only place during my entire pilgrimage that I did not want to leave. I could have stayed there forever! My thoughts have dimmed about the other places we visited, but not the tomb. I often think about my experience at the tomb and wish I could recover the sense of peace I found there. On the way back, we were shown the upper room - the site of the Last Supper. There I thanked God for the gift of the institu- tion of the Eucharist and the priesthood. From there we visited the tomb of David on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, and later, to the Gar- den of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed with His apostles before His arrest. We also visited the tomb of Mary, known as the Church of the Assumption, a church cut into the rock with the traditional site of Mary’s tomb below it. From Nazareth, we travelled to Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle at someone’s happy wedding reception. “Do as he tells you,” Mary had instructed the servants... Our next stop was Capernaum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, which has been considered the hometown of Jesus. Here he often preached in the synagogue and performed some of the miracles of his public ministry. It is believed that Capernaum was also the home of Peter and several of the other apostles. The town has become more of a museum than a place for people to live. Because of this, I pondered the prophecy of Jesus who cursed Capernaum because its people would not accept his teachings. Later, not far away, we were shown the place where Jesus had first appeared to his apostles after the Resurrection. West of the Sea of Galilee, we find Mt. Tabor, considered the place of the Transfiguration, another site we visited during our pilgrimage. I learned some important things from my pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It is good to walk in the shoes of St. Thomas. Doubt- ing paves the way to a zeal and desire to confirm what is true. I discovered that our faith is true and has its sources and foundation in the Holy Land. I also came to the realization that every Christian is blessed with gifts beyond their comprehension. I wanted to see with my own eyes where the history of salvation had begun. I found that despite the turmoil we hear about every day from that part of the world,salvation history is still available for us to discover. ><> ><> ><> Koinonia Page 10

CanonSoul Owen Loftus, Check Dean Holy Trinity Anglican Seminary

t is February now. During a curious “Indian Summer” in the month of January in South Carolina, we had a lot of sunny days, and I found myself saying “Let’s skip winter due to lack of interest.” I This happens when you are in your eighties and are not too keen on cold weather. Especially if you remember the days you were in Korea on the Manchurian border in the winter. I told myself I would never go anywhere, voluntarily, where it is cold again. Now, I know a lot of Koinonia readers are in, shall we say, other climes and deal with cold, wet, weather every year. However, as I look out the window of my study/chapel, I see it is darkish, though it is not six o’clock in the evening - yet. And cold. And rainy. And I had to bundle up and hold an umbrella over my head as I went only a few yards to our mailbox here in the “sticks” of rural South Carolina. I thank the Lord that I can remember sunny days. I remember the warmth which had me shedding my suit coat, and maybe having a little sweat under my clerical collar. But I love it. Looking out my window at the gloom I think of the season of Lent, and the opportunity to look at another aspect of my life. Is it as gloomy in my soul? I wrote an article about conscience. Thank we God we have it. It is God’s way of saying “Hey, dude! What are you doing? Don’t you know I don’t want you to do that? Stop now!” So I look inside. Is is as cold, rainy, and miserable as it is outside? Well, I wouldn’t say I was a Saint yet. Not in the sense of the Church triumphant. In the sense of the Church militant here on earth, I’m, like y’all, working on it. On the wall of my study, there is a crucifix. On a bookshelf at eye level, I have pictures of family, of course, but also a “triptych” which is a three piece Ikon. In the center is a iconic representation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, On the left “wing” there is an angel. On the right wing there is a lady whom I take to be the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pictures of my family (just behind the ikon), elicit feelings of love and belonging. Memory of their presence (of those who are not here); especially my grown children, bring forth feelings of love and belonging. Should not the ikon elicit the same feelings? So also should the icon of Christ, bring forth feelings of love and belonging. After all, He died on the cross for us all, didn’t He? Maybe I need to do better and keep Lent and take the time to “examine my conscience” but better still, not only “eliminate the negative” but “latch on the positive” (and don’t mess with Mr. In-between!) Many Christians here in the South do not like Ikons. They are “iconoclasts”, and the best they do in that respect is to have a bare cross representing the Risen Christ. Many of the same folks con- sult prayerfully the Word of God in their King James Bibles every day. So should I, and usually I do, though I wander over into the aca- demic side, not the spiritual side. After all, we also have the Book of Common Prayer, and clergy are under obligation to read prayerfully Morning and Evening Prayer Daily. In an Orthodox Version of the 1928 Prayer Book which I also have, there is not only Mattins and Evensong, but Compline, or bed-time prayers as well, carried over from the monastic offices from which our Book of Common Prayer Daily Offices came. Now my conscience is speaking to me. I have been an Anglican Christian for a while, and still don’t do as well as I should in the prayer department. How are y’all doing? Well, Lent is a good time to “pull you socks up”, listen to your conscience, for it is God’s way of saying -- in the words of the Prayer Book, “....we have erred and strayed from thy ways, like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done, and there is no health in us” So during this season of Lent, maybe we can go back to our own heritage and keep Lent by keeping “in touch” with our Crucified Jesus Christ through the medium of the confessions, prayers, and thanksgivings in our Book of Common Prayer and get them to our souls, so it might be a little sunnier and not rain so much inside! ><> Koinonia Page 11 THE POWER OF PRAYER by Fr. Don Holley he Lenten Season is a time for us to focus on the to our Lord God. suffering, death and resurrection of our savior Jesus God will heal your loved one too. James 5:15 says, ‘and the Lord Christ. We cannot know the true joy of Easter with- shall save the sick. The Lord shall raise them up; and if they out knowing the darkness, the pain and the sacrifice have committed sins, they shall be forgiven them.’ God loves of the cross. each of us as we love our own children, and he will help us in T The message of Lent is sometimes hard for Christians our time of need if we just pray and ask Him for His help. John to understand. Lent means depriving ourselves, looking into our 11:28 says, ‘and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never own souls, reflecting on our own sinfulness, facing our tempta- perish, neither sall any man pluck them out of my hand.’ tions, finding strength in scripture and ultimately looking to the God loves us so much that he offers us eternal life. cross of Jesus Christ and seeing our sins being nailed there. Be- There could be no more love given to us than that. I stand with cause Jesus died on that cross and thus paid for our sins, we have you in faith that your loved one shall be healed too. God does not life, and because Jesus rose from the dead, we will have eternal lie, and His word is true, so expect a miracle.” life with him. Those were the words of a tough former Marine, from a A few days ago, I received a call from someone outside well-used piece of paper that he had carried with him since 1983. my Parish, asking my opinion of the power of prayer. In answer “What you have asked of me had been done!” God’s answer to to his question, I told him the true story of a family in South- a fervent prayer of repentance, confession, humility and faithful- ern Missouri that actually received a miracle in answer to fervent ness; A prayer for mercy that did not go unanswered, the conver- prayer. This is a powerful story and I know that it is true. sion of a tough former Marine to a life of dedication and faithful- A couple of years ago, I had the occasion to speak to a ness to Jesus Christ. man in far Southern Missouri who asked me questions about the I found out later that Marines went by the busload to do- differences between Anglicanism and Roman Catholicism. After nate blood to help their fellow Marine and his wife. God, of course we had discussed those differences and what we Anglicans be- was true to his word. “What you asked of Me has been done.” God lieve, he became very quiet for a moment, and then told me a said. And so it was. beautiful story of how God had granted him a miracle. But that’s not the end of the story. Susan was told by her He pulled a folded, wrinkled and well-worn piece of pa- doctors that she would never walk again, that it was impossible per from his wallet and told me that his miracle had happened 30 for her to walk. You see, in an effort to save her life, the surgeons years ago. He had made a hand-written, pencil account of the had severed the nerve systems in both her legs and they said it was incident and had carried with him ever since. He allowed me to impossible for her to walk. make a copy of that account, and although I will not use his name Two weeks later, she took her first step, and within a few in order to protect his privacy, the following is a direct quote from more weeks was able to walk on her own out of the hospital. All of that hand-written account of 30 years ago: the doctors were amazed, admitting that in fact they had just wit- “On the 23rd day of October, 1983, my wife Susan gave nessed a miracle. They all agreed that it was an impossibility for birth to our third child, a beautiful little girl. Shortly after that, that nerve system to re-attach itself and allow her to walk. They Satan struck. The doctors came in and told me that my wife was had no explanation other than, “it was a miracle.” bleeding to death. Is there power in prayer? Is there hope for a sinner? Does God I was not a practicing Christian at the time, but praise hear our innermost thoughts? Susan and her husband reply with a God, I was brought up in a Christian home. The doctors told me resounding “ABSOLUTELY”. I promised them I would tell their that they would immediately send Susan to the University Medi- story as an example of God’s grace, His love, His power to heal, to cal Center, as they had done all they could for her. answer prayer and to forgive sin. I called all the members of my immediate family and The season of Lent is the perfect time for us to reflect on asked them to start praying to God to spare Susan’s life. I was our own sinfulness and to ask God to forgive us. Because waiting scared that God would not answer my prayers, because I knew at the end of Lent is Holy Week….and at the end of Holy Week that I had not lived the life that I knew was right. waits the cross. It is there that all of our failings rest….it is there On October 24th, the doctors told me they had no hope that all of our sins reside….it is there with the blood of Christ that of my wife surviving. I was praying to God to please let her live, we find our true comfort. There on the cross we receive the great- but she was just getting worse and worse. est gift ever…freedom from the burden that rests on our shoulders, At 6:03 that evening, I forgot all my pride and all freedom from the sin that taints our souls, and freedom from the worldly things and fell down on my knees and accepted Jesus penalty of death as a result of our failures. Christ as my Lord and savior. I was totally humble to the will If we truly walk these forth days of Lent as our savior has of God,…..and while sitting in the waiting room in the intensive asked, then we will be able to experience the true depth of what care unit, God spoke to me. He said, ‘What you have asked of happens on that cross,…..and then truly feel the power behind the Me has been done.’ I praised Him for the healing of my wife. joy on Easter morning as we declare….. Over the next 5 days, the doctors continued to tell me ”HALLELUJAH, CHRIST IS RISEN! that Susan would not pull through. But I stood on God’s word CHRIST HAS RISEN INDEED” and told them that she would live, because God had told me so. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, My wife went through 7 operations in 6 days and used 250 units Amen! ><> Fr. Don Holley, St. Paul’s HCCAR, Branson, MO of blood and blood products, but today praise God, she is still Thanks to Fr. Don Holley and the congregation of St. Paul’s for here and she is totally healthy and whole. All of the glory goes their help in recording the Stations of the Cross on Youtube! Koinonia Page 12 THE UPS AND DOWNS (NOTHING NEW) Fr. Jimmy Dean, Church of the Holy Family, Casper ’m sure all of you feel quite often the way the way I do regarding the world we live in. You feel sad,discouraged, and quite angry when you hear about Ithe violence, the reckless and empty agendas of those who are pushing our culture into a way of life we never would have imagined. We ask ourselves, how could this ever have happened? Satan is hard at work, and is having some suc- cess at least for the time being I could go on with the down-side much longer,but everyone knows it all too well. We have all seen the upside too. We just have to wait a matter of hours or a day or two at the most until we hear something on the news, read something, or see it for ourselves, something that is uplifting and this revives our faith and hope in the many good people we share the world with. Good people pick up the pieces, keep moving forward, doing good things, and I’m sure they get angry and disgusted too. In the psalms and the epistles we read of the up and down feelings of long ago. Same thing nothing new. Believers have always had that Spirit that kept them strong in the long run if things. Believers in the New Testament days and today have that perfect and perpetual reminder that will keep them focused. The Summary Of The Law. Something I read recently that was quite humbling and uplifting to me is also something I wanted to share with all of you.

“When a poor person dies, I want them to die in the arms of somebody who loves them. I want them to be able to look for the last time into the eyes of somebody who cares for them” Mother Teresa of Calcutta

s was saying my morning prayers I asked God for forgiveness for the things I have done and the things I have left undone. Wow what have I left undone? When was God speaking to me and I was not listening? My mind raced to recall all the ways God speaks to us; I was Arecalling classes we had taken during our journey. Let’s see through Bible Study, prayer, circumstances, dreams, ...... my mind then starts racing to think of times in my life when I might have missed God talking to me and left something He needed me to do undone. This concerned me and still concerns me. My mind now races to Monday night football, I know what you are thinking. Monday night football are you kidding me? Give me a moment to explain. on Monday Night Foot- ball they run a segment called C’Mon Man! During this segment the hosts will discuss and show plays that made them scratch their heads and end each by saying C’Mon Man! One play from last season showed a wide receiver that had obtained great deal of separation from the defensive back, he was wide open! The quarterback threw the ball and it went right through his hands.....C’Mon Man!!! This show has become so popular that fans tweet and text in suggested C’Mon Man plays of the week. C’Mon Man......

I wondered how many times God looked down at me after sending me a message of something he was calling me to do and when I missed it he would say C’Mon Man!! God must have a sense of humor. And it made me pon- der does God have a heavenly version of C’Mon Man?? On Monday nights do all the Angels, archangels and all the company of heaven gather in a big stadium (can you imagine God’s Big Screen High Definition TV?) and watch a heavenly version of C’Mon Man? All week long do Angels submit “plays of the week” to vote on for review in front of all of heaven? I can picture it; God shows me someone in need, someone who I am being called to serve and I miss it. The scene is played out on God’s Big Screen High Definition TV in front of the entire company of heaven and when the scene ends they all shout C’Mon Man!!!! Ouch! How many times have I been on Heavenly C’Mon Man? How many times have you been on the Heavenly version of C’Mon Man??? ~ Steve Kinner ><>

Koinonia Page 13 The Finest Expressions of Anglican Piety at its Best

Lent and Easter with George Herbert Canon Patrick Comerford

s we journey through Lent towards Easter, I am re- to Herbert’s kinsmen, “the most noble and incomparable pair of minded of three of my favourite poems by George brethren,” William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, and Philip Her- Herbert (1593-1633) a Welsh-born English poet, bert, Earl of Montgomery. orator and Anglican priest. The poet Henry Vaughan George Herbert’s mother Magdalene (nee Newport) was described him as “a most glorious saint and seer,” a patron and friend of many poets, including John Donne, who Awhile the Puritan Richard Baxter was moved to say: “Herbert dedicated his Holy Sonnets to her. His older brother, Edward Her- speaks to God like one that really believeth a God, and whose busi- bert, later Lord Herbert of Cherbury, was an important poet and ness in the world is most with God. Heart-work and heaven-work philosopher, often referred to as “the father of English deism.” make up his books.” Herbert’s father, Richard Herbert, Lord Herbert of Cher- George Herbert was a skilled priest, poet and teacher, and bury, died in 1596, when George was three, leaving a widow and an accomplished musician, who in his poems brings together poet- 10 children. The poet’s mother was determined to educate and ry, music and architecture. His spirituality is the Anglican Via Me- raise her children as loyal Anglicans. The family moved first to dia or Middle Way par excellence. His poetry is constantly evident Oxford in 1599 and then to London in 1601, and George Herbert of the intimacy of his dealings with God and his assurance that, was tutored at home before entering Westminster School in 1604 alone in a vast universe, he is held safe by the Crucified Christ. at the age of 10. Herbert stands alongside John Jewel, Richard Hooker In his first year at Westminster School, he came under and Lancelot Andrewes for his profound influence on the Caroline the tutelage of Lancelot Andrewes, then the Dean of Westminster Divines, including John Cosin and Jeremy Taylor, and he is ranked Abbey. As early as 1604, he penned Musae Responsoriae, later with John Donne as one of the great metaphysical poets. published in 1620, a collection of lightly satirical verses directed Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote of Herbert’s diction that at the Presbyterian controversialist Andrew Melville. “Nothing can be more pure, manly, or unaffected.” The poet lau- In 1606, Herbert’s widowed mother, Magdalene, mar- reate WH Auden wrote of him: “His poetry is the counterpart of ried Sir John Danvers, who was then only 20 but proved to be a Jeremy Taylor’s prose: together they are the finest expressions of benign and generous stepfather. Anglican piety at its best.” On 5 May 1609, Herbert was admitted to Trinity College, Cam- Herbert’s life bridge, where he excelled in languages and music, and there he George Herbert was born on 3 April 1593 in Montgomery first considered becoming a priest. There too he began to write Castle, Wales, the seventh of 10 children in an eminent, intellec- otional poetry and his first two sonnets, sent to his mother in tual artistic and wealthy Welsh landed family. When the first folio 1610, maintained that the love of God is a worthier subject for of Shakespeare’s plays was published in 1623, it was dedicated verse than the love of a woman. His first verses, published, in

Koinonia Page 14 1612, were two memorial poems in Latin on the death of the heir In those three years, he came to be known as “Holy Mr apparent, Prince Henry. Herbert” around the countryside. His practical manual offering Herbert graduated first with the degree BA (Bachelor of practical pastoral advice to country clergy, A Priest to the Temple Arts) in 1613. He became a minor Fellow of Trinity College in (or The Country Parson) (1652), exhibits the intelligent devotion 1614 before proceeding MA (Master of Arts) in 1616, the year he showed to his parishioners. He tells them, for example, that William Shakespeare died He was elected a major fellow of Trin- “things of ordinary use,” such as ploughs, leaven, or dances, could ity in 1618, and was appointed Praelector or Reader in Rhetoric at be made to “serve for lights even of Heavenly Truths.” Cambridge. On his deathbed, he sent the manuscript of The Temple In 1619, he was elected the Public Orator of Cambridge to his friend, Nicholas Ferrar, who had founded the semi-monastic University. In this post, Herbert represented Cambridge at public Anglican religious community at Little Gidding – a name best occasions, writing and addressing formal official speeches in Latin known today through the poem Little Gidding by TS Eliot. In his to king and court and to visiting dignitaries and ambassadors. He letter, Herbert said of his writings: “They are a picture of spiritual described the post as “the finest place in the university,” and he conflicts between God and my soul before I could subject my will continued to hold that post until 1628.. to Jesus, my Master.” He asked Ferrar to publish the poems if he He spent some time away from Cambridge when he was thought they might “turn to the advantage of any dejected poor MP for Montgomery in King James I’s last parliament in 1623- soul,” but otherwise he should burn them. 1624. A fellow MP at the time was Nicholas Ferrar, who was a Suffering from poor health, Herbert died of tuberculosis contemporary of Herbert’s at Cambridge as an undergraduate at on 1 March 1633 at the age of 40, less than three years after being Clare Hall. However, a potentially promising parliamentary career ordained priest. An inscription found in the Rectory at Bemerton was short and Herbert was ordained deacon in 1625 or 1626. By after his death reads: this time, John Donne was a close family friend. To My Successor: In 1626, while still a deacon, Herbert was appointed Preb- If thou chance for to find endary of Leighton or a canon in Lincoln Cathedral and became A new House to thy mind, Rector of Leighton Bromswold, a small village in Huntingdon- And built without thy cost; shire. Herbert was not even present at his institution as a prebend, Be good to the Poor and it appears he never resided in Leighton Bromswold, appoint- As God gives thee store, ing two vicars to take charge of the parish. However, with the help And then my Labour’s not lost. of Nicholas Ferrar, he raised funds to refurbish the church, which had not been in use for 20 years. Ever since then, Saint Mary’s Another version reads: Church has two pulpits dating from 1626, attributed to Herbert’s emphasis that a parson should both pray and preach. If thou dost find Herbert’s mother died in 1627, and John Donne preached An house built to thy mind, at her funeral in Chelsea. Herbert resigned as university orator in Without thy cost; 1627, and later he moved to Wiltshire. On 5 March 1629, he mar- Serve thou the more ried Jane Danvers, a cousin of his step-father. God and the poor; He became Rector of Fugglestone with Bemerton on 26 My labour is not lost. April 1630, and nine months later, on 19 September, he was or- dained priest in Salisbury Cathedral. He spent the rest of his life as His first biographer, Izaak Walton, described Herbert on a rector of the little parish of Fugglestone St Peter with Bemerton his deathbed as “composing such hymns and anthems as he and the St Andrew, a Wiltshire rural parish near Salisbury and about 75 angels now sing in heaven.” miles south-west of London. The Temple was edited by Nicholas Ferrar and was pub- In Bemerton, he preached and wrote poetry and helped lished in Cambridge later that year as The Temple: Sacred poems to rebuild the church, drawing on his own funds. He was known and private ejaculations. It met with such popular acclaim that it too for unfailing care for his parishioners, bringing the sacraments had been reprinted 20 times by 1680, and went through eight edi- to them when they were ill, and providing food and clothing for tions by 1690. needy parishioners. Koinonia Page 15 Izaak Walton’s The Life of Mr. George Herbert (1670) traces his spiritual development and his career, dividing his life into two op- posing halves: the first half full of worldly success – his brilliant mind, fine education, exalted social circle, and court ambitions – and the second half showing him turn away from the world to serve God, love the poor, and lead a life of “almost incredible” virtue. Herbert’s reputation as a firm rejecter of the vanities of the world – “like a saint, unspotted of the world” – is supported by his own self-identification as a “country parson.” The term “country” at the time was often used in direct opposition to the court as well as to the city, so that the idea of a country “parson” or pastor implies someone in retreat, exile, or isolation from court and city life. Herbert implicitly contrasts the ideal parson with the intellectual, with the poet, and with the courtier, preferring the parson’s emotional “patience, temperance ... and orderliness” to the poet’s clamours of the soul. Critical interest in Herbert’s poetry struggles in a debate about whether his voice is that of the philosopher or the country pastor. When he is thought of as a parson, his poems may seem simple; when he is considered as a metaphysical philosopher, his poems may seem academic and complex. Herbert is as much an ecclesiastical poet as a religious poet, yet all sorts of readers have responded to his quiet intensity, and for many readers in recent decades, he has displaced John Donne as the supreme metaphysi- cal poet.

Lent by George Herbert

Staying in Sidney Sussex College over many years has brought the privilege of being within strolling distance of most if not all of the major churches, chapels and colleges in Cambridge. Lent

The Classical Gate in Sidney Sussex College was originally Welcome dear feast of Lent: who loves not hee, erected in Hall Court to replace the first main gate. During Wy- He loves not Temperance, or Authority, atville’s alterations in 1832, the gate was moved to the north-east But is compos’d of passion. corner of the gardens, where it remains an eye-catching feature. The Scriptures bid us fast; the Church says, now: But the gate must be closed permanently, for I have never seen it Give to thy Mother, what thou wouldst allow open into Jesus Lane, which forms the northern boundary of the To ev’ry Corporation. grounds of Sidney Sussex. On the same side as the Classical Gate is All Saints’ The humble soul compos’d of love and fear Church. The ‘Saintly Cambridge Anglicans’ window, installed in Begins at home, and lays the burden there, the church in 1923 by Kempe & Co, has three panels of stained- When doctrines disagree, glass designed by John Lisle honouring three Cambridge saints: He says, in things which use hath justly got, the priest poet George Herbert (1593-1633); Bishop Brooke Foss I am a scandal to the Church, and not Westcott (1825-1901); and the missionary Henry Martyn (1781- The Church is so to me. 1812). Herbert and Westcott were fellows of Trinity College Cambridge, while Martyn was a Fellow of Saint John’s College, True Christians should be glad of an occasion which explains why the coat-of-arms of each college is also To use their temperance, seeking no evasion, depicted in the window. When good is seasonable; Below the panel depicting George Herbert is an im- Unless Authority, which should increase age of Saint Andrew’s Church, Bemerton, and the words: “Here The obligation in us, make it less, George Herbert ministered and beneath the Altar of Bemerton And Power itself disable. Church was buried A.D. 1632.” Of course, Herbert never min- istered in All Saints’ Church, and he died in 1633, not in 1632. Besides the cleanness of sweet abstinence, But as I pass by the Classical Gate in at Sidney Sussex College, Quick thoughts and motions at a small expense, Cambridge, I am reminded of George Herbert’s words in his A face not fearing light: poem ‘Lent’: ‘That ev’ry man may revel at his door …’ Whereas in fulness there are sluttish fumes, Sour exhalations, and dishonest rheums, Revenging the delight.

Koinonia Page 16 Herbert’s poem ‘Easter,’ first published in The Temple shortly Then those same pendant profits, which the spring after his death, is a highly complex connotative poem that is often And Easter intimate, enlarge the thing, difficult to grasp. And goodness of the deed. This poem, in two parts, is an example of how Herbert’s Neither ought other men’s abuse of Lent poems sometimes take a double-poem organisation with two Spoil the good use; lest by that argument separate stanza forms – a structure he uses too in a companion We forfeit all our Creed. poem, ‘Good Friday.’ ‘Easter’ was originally written by Herbert as two sepa- It’s true, we cannot reach Christ’s forti’eth day; rate poems, but the call in the first verse, ‘Rise heart; thy Lord is Yet to go part of that religious way, risen,’ and the musical images of verses two and three, find their Is better than to rest: fullest expression in the song of praise in the final three verses. We cannot reach our Saviour’s purity; In this poem, Herbert addresses his heart as he prepares Yet we are bid, ‘Be holy ev’n as he,’ for Easter. Reflecting on the Resurrection, he is moved in the In both let’s do our best. first part of the poem to compose a song (lines 1-18), and he then shares this song in the second part of the poem (lines 19-30). Who goeth in the way which Christ hath gone, There is good reason to believe that Herbert intended the second, Is much more sure to meet with him, than one less formal part of this poem to be sung to the accompaniment of That travelleth by-ways: a lute. Perhaps my God, though he be far before, Easter May turn and take me by the hand, and more: May strengthen my decays. Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise Without delayes, Yet Lord instruct us to improve our fast Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise By starving sin and taking such repast, With him mayst rise: As may our faults control: That, as his death calcined thee to dust, That ev’ry man may revel at his door, His life may make thee gold, and much more, just. Not in his parlour; banqueting the poor, And among those his soul. Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part With all thy art. Easter, by George Herbert The crosse taught all wood to resound his name, Who bore the same. His stretched sinews taught all strings, what key Is best to celebrate this most high day.

Consort both heart and lute, and twist a song Pleasant and long: Or, since all musick is but three parts vied And multiplied, O let thy blessed Spirit bear a part, And make up our defects with his sweet art.

I got me flowers to straw thy way; I got me boughs off many a tree: But thou wast up by break of day, And brought’st thy sweets along with thee.

The Sunne arising in the East, Though he give light, and th’ East perfume; If they should offer to contest With thy arising, they presume.

Can there be any day but this, Though many sunnes to shine endeavour? We count three hundred, but we misse: There is but one, and that one ever.

Easter Wings by George Herbert

‘Easter Wings’ by George Herbert is a pattern poem in which the work is not only meant to be read, but its shape is Koinonia Page 17 poem was first published in 1633, it was printed on two pages of a book, sideways, so that the lines suggest two birds flying The “Gesima” Sundays upwards, with their wings spread out. Herbert is using a form of poetry called carmen figu- and Lent ration, manipulating the overall shape of the poem to mimic Fr. Lewis Shepherd, HCCAR its subject. In this way, he shapes both stanzas to look like Holy Trinity HCCAR, Sheridan WY wings when the poem is turned sideways, representing the ultimate flight of humanity when Christ claim his followers. The Liturgical preparation for Easter may be This style of writing poems with shapes that mirror viewed as taking place in three periods or steps. The first is their theme was adopted from the ancient Greeks and was the “gesima.” The common theme for these Sundays is the popular when Herbert was writing in the early 17th century, Grace of God. with many poets adopting similar styles and forms of writing. Septuagsima. Grace is the unmerited favor of God. The The shape of the poem represents a dying or falling, Collect for this Sunday implores God to graciously hear us, then rising pattern, which is the theme of the Easter story. The who are justly punished for our sin, so that we may be de- top half of each stanza focuses on the problems caused by livered by God’s goodness. The goodness of God is empha- human sin, while the bottom half reflects the hope made pos- sized in the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (St. Mt. sible by Christ’s Resurrection at Easter. The wings may evoke 2:1-16), where all the laborers receive the same reward be- also the angels present at the empty tomb on that first Easter cause of the goodness of landowner. So we too receive the morning (John 20: 12). reward of eternal life, because God is good, and Another But Herbert also adopts other styles in this poem has borne the heat and burden of the day for us. about the fall of humanity and the Resurrection of Christ. He Sexagesima. Grace is received through the Word of God. uses capitalisation at the beginning of each line and punctua- In the Parable of the Sower (St. Luke 8:4-15), the seed of tion at the end of most lines in ‘Easter Wings,’ so that each God’s Word is received in good hearts. line stands on its own with a capital letter at the beginning. Quinquagesima. Salvation is by the Grace of God, who This method of form, together with hard punctuation, gives gave His only-begotten Son for us. Grace is not easily un- each line more stress. In this way, Herbert gains the reader’s derstood. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus predicts His Pas- attention and invites us to consider the importance of each sion, and the disciples “understood none of these things.” single line. (St. Luke 18:31-43) The second step of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Easter Wings when we are reminded of our mortality. “Remember, O men, dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou return.” The use Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store, of ashes also expresses our mourning and sorrow for sins. Though foolishly he lost the same, (see Job 42:5-6) Decaying more and more, During the four Sundays in Lent, the focus is on tempta- Till he became tion and faith, and the Christian’s struggle. Most poore: Lent I. Christ is tested in the Wilderness. With thee Lent II. The faith of the Canaanite woman is tested. Oh let me rise Lent III. The people tempt Christ to show them a sign As larks, harmoniously, from heaven. And sing this day thy victories: Lent IV. This Sunday is Laetare Sunday, so called from Then shall the fall further the flight in me. the Introit at Mass, “Laetare Jerusalem” (“O be joyful Je- rusalem”). It is also known as “refreshment” Sunday – a My tender age in sorrow did beginne: respite from the rigorous demands of the Lenten Season. And still with sicknesses and shame The final stage is Passiontide, which begins on Palm Thou didst so punish sinne, Sunday and extends through Holy Week and the Triduum That I became (“three holy days” which include Maundy Thursday, Good Most thinne. Friday and Holy Saturday). Now the focus is exclusively With thee on Christ’s Passion. Throughout Lent and Passiontide, the Let me combine intensity builds until we finally arrive at the empty tomb. And feel this day thy victorie: The mood of the entire period from the gesima Sun- For, if I imp my wing on thine days through Holy Saturday becomes progressively more Affliction shall advance the flight in me. somber. At first, the “Alleluias” are dropped along with the Gloria. During the four Sundays of Lent, flowers no longer ><>><>><> adorn the altar. On Passion Sunday, statues and images are The Revd Professor Patrick Comerford is Lecturer in Anglicanism, Liturgy draped in purple. After the Mass on Maundy Thursday, the and Church History, the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, an Adjunct Blessed Sacrament is removed and the altar stripped. Call it Assistant Professor, Trinity College Dublin (University of Dublin), and a a liturgical death of the Church - a death that reveals to us canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. Fr. Patrick is almost a regular how Christ emptied Himself of His glory in order to save contributor to Koinonia and we appreciate his contributions. us. All this finally leads us to the joy of Easter. Have a meaningful and blessed Lent. Koinonia Page 18 The Least of the Sheep RELGIOUS LIBERTY This was passed on by Fr. Julio Jimenez and we have obtained permission Those who offend our sensibilities and violate the laws from Jerry David of Open Doors USA to reprint this article of society are often beyond empathy given their histories of life choices. They are a difficult group of individuals who largely fail So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 to muster compassion or understanding among members of the general population. Prisoners and their family members by exten- Ron Boyd MacMillan is a perceptive communicator. He writes sion have become the 21st Century Lepers. As Christians, we have for the next two days: received a mandate from Jesus Christ to feed the hungry, clothe As my plane touched down after a trip to the Middle the naked, visit those in prison, and so on. It is not a command that East, I breathed a big sigh of relief. I was back where I did not yields easily to our concept of convenient outreach to others. The have to watch my back, be careful what I said, or where I went. family members of those in prison as well as the spouses and chil- Whew. I was back in a country that had religious freedom. dren are serving their sentences every day in the community. They I prayed to God, “Thank you for the men and women who are largely invisible although there are an estimated 90 million fought to bring me this freedom. Thank God they won.” citizens having a family member who has been through the justice Then two incidents happened one after the other that process. made me think again. Like the lepers of old, we are plagued by the spectacle of I was at an art exhibition and looking at a painting en- rejection and the imposition of modern day exclusionary practices. titled, Man startled on a horse. I sought out the artist and said, It appears that once they have crossed the threshold of criminal “Was that the Apostle Paul on the Damascus road you were conviction, offenders are relegated to a shadow land exile for the depicting?” I thought he would be pleased I had figured it out. rest of their lives. You may not see the harm inherent in the grow- But he looked horrified, and glancing around he hissed, ing numbers of citizens fighting for existence in the post prison “For goodness sake keep quiet. Do you want me to get labeled world. Perhaps some basic numbers will inform the public policy as a religious artist? I’d never sell another painting if that hap- issues contributing to this growing dilemma. Consider the follow- ing numbers: pened.” 2 million currently in prison. Then I was talking to a priest in charge of a large church 8 million currently under probation or parole supervision. in my city. His church had just received a large sum of money 30 million estimated former felons within our national borders. from the state for the refurbishment of a church hall. Then he 14 million new arrests each year. said, “Well, we had to sign an agreement that the church would !1 million estimated new felony convictions each year. be available for everyone of any religion, and that we would 500,000 mental health professionals and clergy to work with them. not try to convert anyone. But we were happy to do that. We 90 million estimated family members with prior justice system just want to be a community resource.” experience. Suddenly I became aware that I had to fight for reli- The current way to manage the concerns of those who gious liberty in my own country. I had thought that because have lived through this experience seems to focus on ignoring certain toleration laws were in place, I was safe. the problem. Given the social stigma, shame and pain few fam- But no, it was clear from the artist that to admit one’s ily members, spouses or children would give public voice to their Christian faith in a public context was professional suicide. personal sufferings. So they manage to become invisible in our How did my society suddenly get so prejudiced? communities and cities, rural and urban areas. They are there if And look at the priest blithely giving up his right to you care to look for them. evangelize, without a thought to the long-term cost. Who was Dismas Project is a Christian ministry to families of of- asking him to refrain from evangelizing? And how could he be fenders. This ministry has developed regional outreach workshops so unaware of the freedom he just signed away? for all family members and concerned individuals at no cost. In RESPONSE: Today I will not assume that freedom giving voice to their sorrow and pain, we are beginning to take is automatic. I will stand up for the truth of God’s Word the first step toward inviting our lost brothers and sisters and their and be truly free. families to return to fellowship in our churches and communities. Restoring relationships starts with establishing a bond of trust and PRAYER: Lord, may I never take the free expres- communication. Only in that context can true healing begin. sion of my faith for granted. Help me to understand the Churches and community organizations may sponsor a challenges that representing Your truth will bring. local workshop for disenfranchised families or simply request fur- ther information by contacting Dismas Project staff at 888-545- Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS) 5128; online at www.dismasproject.com, Facebook @Dismas A daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks Project or Twitter @Knowetics. Individual service requests will be © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission treated as personal and confidential. In most cases, these children and family members are without support and are truly the “least of the sheep.” Kevin J. McCarthy, Ph.D. Dismas Project, Inc. P.O. Box 1484 Slidell, Louisiana 70459

Koinonia Page 19 Busyness Is Not a Spiritual Gift ‘Wait’ is a tough word to deal with in today’s busy world. Tammy Whitehurst

is hard, but God reminds me that I can do all things through easily become overloaded, overburdened, and go overboard Christ who gives me strength. with busyness. I’ve often thought to myself that life would Morning by Morning New Mercies I See be perfect if bad times had fast forward buttons and good I began to sing the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” times had pause buttons. I’d also like to clone myself to get as I awoke each day. I asked the Lord to help me give up a life more done and never have to sit back and wait for anything. of unbridled busyness and to show me how to achieve balance But is that really what I want? between worshiping God, loving my family, and enjoying my Wait is a tough word to deal with in today’s busy world. Being too work. Somehow during the course of my life, I mixed those up busyI can distract us from the really important things in our lives— and put work at the beginning. From this day forward, busy people. Do I really like being so busy that I’m worn out by noon? No. was not going to win out any more. Busy was not going to I know deep within my heart that being overloaded is a way for the push me around till I was worn out from the struggle. I stood enemy to distract me from those most precious to me. If I’m really up tall, held my shoulders back, and smiled. I began to seize honest, I would have to admit I learn more during those calm and the opportunity to truly listen to God’s plan for my life. Some- peaceful times when my heart, soul, and mind all unite to seek God’s one once told me peace smells like cupcakes. Step back and will than I do when I’m stretching my mind to hold more and more welcome that smell. Let your house begin to take on the odor while I’m falling apart. One thing I have to remember on a daily basis of a bakery and watch how you begin to see and taste that the is that wait is not an ugly word and “busy” is not a spiritual gift. After Lord is good once you grow still and begin to slow down. all, God says in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” If you are in a season of fast-paced insanity, no fun Isn’t being still waiting? When you have a personality like mine, it’s frustration, and running around like a road runner, I encourage hard to be still, but it is only during those moments alone with God you to seek God with all your heart and ask him to help you that I can truly feel a peace that surpasses all understanding. Busy is clear the unnecessary chaos that you have brought to your life. the enemy of peace. Busy steals precious time. Busy robs my bless- Sit and wait as he begins to show you the things to remove, ings. and be ready to listen. Is it easy? No. Is it worth it? Yes. Do Waiting Time Is Never Wasting Time you love some of the things he might remove? Yes. But trust In this fast paced, jungle-like world we build for ourselves, him and hang on to your faith with an iron fist as you seek to we rarely have “waiting” time anymore. We expect instant gratifi- glorify the Lord with your life. Begin to say, “Use me, Lord!” cation and instant results—at lightening fast speed! We become so not, “Why me, Lord?” engrossed in paperwork that we delete all the “people” work in our God is going to see you through and when he does, lives. We become so busy that we can’t remember the last time we you will stand taller and bolder, and be more faithful. You’ll took a full day off or sat at the dinner table with the family. begin to smell the roses, taste the rain, laugh more, and not Life can bring about big storms and the waves hit hard if we don’t miss out on the important things in life. You’ll overflow with slow down. Busy can beat upon us like a drum. When those closest good things rather than be drained from exhaustion. You’ll to us have stopped asking for our time, it’s because they know we are come out of the desert singing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and too busy for them. That’s crushing to the heart. We all need “wait- knowing that God is in control after all. It’s such a relief to ing” time, whether we think we do or not. Waiting time is when we not have to try to control everything. And the best part is that say adamantly, “It can wait!” and we step back and do what is really one day, as you awaken to sunshine peering through your win- important. dow, you’ll feel the joy of the Lord has returned to your life. I discovered this after I found myself checking my appoint- You’ll know that joy comes in the morning when you realize ment book to see if I could squeeze in lunch with my 18-year-old that busyness is not a spiritual gift. daughter. I knew then that I had to back up and take a good look at The ultimate peacemaker said, “Peace I leave with my priorities. The world would momentarily stop if something ever you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world happened to her, so why can’t I stop when she wants me to have gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled …” (John 14:27). lunch? It’s amazing how busy I allow myself to be. To actually clear He releases you to run free from chaos and to break free from my schedule for a day or two feels impossible. I feel as if everything busyness so you can experience a peace that surpasses all un- would fall apart if I said, “No, I’m sorry. I can’t do that task,” or if I derstanding. So, when your heart is calm, thank him. And once refuse to answer my phone. God puts his healing hand under my chin you’ve done that, go to lunch with a loved one and don’t forget and assures me of one thing—he will never leave me and he wants to turn off your phone. me to trust him as he helps me clear my overloaded plate to a man- *** ageable amount. Tammy Whitehurst, a Christian speaker, is the found- The storm that rages inside me is shouting, “Slow Down!” er of Joy for the Journey Ministries. You can read more about and demands my attention. But if I heed that call, the Creator of her at tammywhitehurst.com. peace will shower me with a peace that surpasses all understanding Tammy Whitehurst | posted 11/06/2012 Copyright {2012}, {Tammy Whitehu- if I just trust him. The fragrance of grace and mercy will overflow in me when I come to peace with being less busy. Breaking old patterns rst} and Christianity Today/ChristianBibleStudies.com. Used with permission.

Koinonia Page 20 Each Year The Cathedral Parish of St Mary´s caracas hosts the Remembrance day and Veterans day Service (Domingo del Dia Commemoracion del Armisticio y Dia Del Veterano de Guerra). This Service is attended by The Ambassadors of the various Embassies within the City of Caracas. For example the British Ambassador, Katherine Nettleton, The Canadian Ambassador, Paul Gibbard and the United States Charge de Affairs, James Dearham. The Ambassadors participate in the Service by Reading the lessons and offering a short address. Of course, the Biblical understanding of “Rememberance” is not simply recalling past events or persons no longer with us, but rather making that event or person present, particularly within the Liturgy. As always, the Service is very meaningful for those who are present that day particularly the minutes silence after the playing of the “Last Post.”

Fr. Barrie Hodgins HCCAR, Rector, St. Mary’s, Caracas, Venezuela.

Koinonia Page 21 Baptism of Royce Moses, grand- son of Deacon Bill and Judy Brummett and the son of Ken and Megan Moses at the Church of the Holy Family on Nov 10, 2012 below the Holy Family Congrega- tion. Photos: Ken Knight

Koinonia Page 22 BEN VENUTO Don Luca ed Elisa a HCCAR Welcome!

In 2000, while working as a teacher in private school teaching Italian to foreign students, I left everything, and I went to Rome to follow the vocation that as a child I felt in my heart, to serve the Church and the people of God as a priest. In Rome, I spent a year at the International Seminar on John Paul II and I studied at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Opus Dei) during the studies I met the Benedictine monks (Dom Claudio Crescimanno) who wanted to found a community young and new ... in Italy it is very common today! I was ordained His priest in 2007. I have always been a popular and typical Catholic conservative, even as a priest. I love the liturgical and personal prayer together with the Holy Bible and the Ro- man Breviary (Liturgy of the Hours) my favorite book is, also actually, “The Imitation of Christ”. After our mar- riage in 2011, the discovery of the Bible (or rediscovery) for me signified a change of perspective but not an aban- donment of the Faith. After a year of attending the Baptist Church here in Italy, Cesena, I feel that for me, and for my wife, sensed a lot of anti-catholic feelings from the evangelicals as they had suffered persecution in the 70s at the hands of catholic hierarchy. We both did not absorb this anti- catholic feelings from the evangelicals either. We continue to believe that in the Catholic Church many things are good as the liturgy, catechesis, charity, while other aspects need to be reformed. We think that the modus operandi of the Anglican reform is good: reformed theology and liturgy, and put Christ and the Bible at the centre. Personally, I wish I could continue my mission as a priest, I have always believed in this vocation to the priesthood and I would live it with the same enthusiasm and love in a country and in a church where we can operate, in communion with the bishop and priests. So we would like to bring our enthusiasm and our ability in the Anglican Church: working with young people and families, serve the elderly and make them feel loved and help the poor in which is hidden Christ. The love for the liturgy has united us (me and Elisa) and continues to unite, it seems strange but there it is! With my wife and many other parishioners friends have experienced the beautiful liturgies with which we sent the Christian mystery. We would also like to be educated in the Anglican faith. I would like to be able to complete my studies and to be able to speak very well English language. We desire to be a sign of friendship for many Catholics friends in Italy and in USA: a sign of how we can live together (Elisa and I) the priestly mission, and that marriage is a help for the priest and not a problem. We ask God’s humility, which is the way of the saints, the patience and strength to be able to enter in the Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite in America. To God be the glory! Amen! ><> Koinonia Page 23 THRU THE LITURGICAL YEAR... WHAT IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD A CANTOR, OR NEED A BACK-UP ? Minor Propers !

Anglican Liturgical Chants Through the Year With all the propers: Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Tracts, Offertory, Communion ; 5 DISCS to cover the Liturgical Year, Digitally Mastered with Cathedral Effect: ATTRACTIVE ORDO Disc 1 Advent - Sexagesima, Disc 2 Ash Wednesday- Trinity, KALENDAR 2013 Disc 3 Trinity 1-Trinity 19, Trinity 20- Annunciation, Disc 5 St. Philip - Appendix. $10 A Great Gift to your church It’s priced at $75 + $5 Shipping CONTACT: St. James Anglican Church, 8107 Holmes, Kansas City, MO 64131 HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN SEMINARY GOOD FORMATION ENSURES GOOD MINISTRY! The Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite is working on its seminary program which will encompass online as well as on campus studies. Let us implore the Lord’s blessing on this initiative that we may raise up shepherds after God’s own heart (Jeremiah 3:15), who in turn will tend His flock.

Publication of the Anglican Province of the Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite St.. James Anglican Church 8107 S. Holmes Road Kansas City, MO 64131