Bishop Neil Welcomes our newest member Parish!

St. Raphael's by the Sea,
Fort Myers Beach, FL

Following a decision by the Vestry to leave the Episcopal Church, The Rev. Alice Marcrum contacted the Rev. Jim McCaslin about the possibility of her transferring from TEC to the Gulf Atlantic Diocese and that St. Raphael's would like to move out as well. The wheels were put into high gear to facilitate both moves and as of August 2nd, they were notified that both transfers are now complete.

They have now left their TEC church building and will begin worshiping in a nearby United Methodist Church until more perminent arrangements can be made.

By the time this is published I will be concluding my sabbatical. Reporting on a sabbatical always feels a little like the "What I Did on Summer Vacation" papers we all wrote at the beginning of each fall. It was easy to be envious or triumphant depending on how I had spent my time in comparison to others in the class.

Because of my brief time in Egypt, I have become more interested in the conflict between Islam and the West. Let me highly recommend Bernard Lewis' brief but tremendously helpful historical analysis of that conflict entitled The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror. Lewis traces the

Click Image to Order

historical roots of the current conflict that go back well before the state of Israel. We need to know some history if we are to understand and pray more effectively for those on the Church's front lines in the spiritual conflict with Islam, although Lewis does not address that issue directly.

Also very enlightening is the autobiography of Mosab Hassan Yousef, The Son of Hamas. This is an insider's view of Islam from a Palestinian

Click Image to Order

whose father led Hamas.  The story details the author's remarkable Christian conversion. It will change views of some Mideast events forever while reminding us of the overwhelming grace of Christ Jesus. It is a good testimony to share with non-Christians. Because of the violence described, I would give it a PG-13 rating.

I have also been reading a great deal about where the church in America may need to head if we are going to reach the next generation. I therefore recommend The Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay. While I do not agree with

Click Image to Order

some of their judgments about the American Church, they are raising the right questions which we must tackle if we are going to plant and nourish churches in the years ahead. Movements That Change the World

Christ Church Vero Beach, Florida

In May of 2008, parishioners, clergy and a majority of support staff, formerly of Trinity Episcopal Church, decided to branch off and join Promised Land Anglican Church. The first service was held on July 6, 2008 at 925 14^th Lane, former home to the tax collector and a thrift store. Quite a different venue than the former church. The operational name was soon changed to Christ Church Vero Beach.

From the first service, attendance exceeded occupancy restrictions. Creativity and flexibility enabled the church to continue to flourish. The positive energy was contagious to all who visited. Satellite services were held in the office space to handle overflow, parishioners attended an earlier less attended service, and some chose to stay home and watch the service through a live stream on their computers.

Today, Christ Church Vero Beach continues to experience God's blessing of faithful followers willing to jump in and help at a moment's notice. There are currently 31 volunteer groups with approximately 470 people who lovingly serve others. A few examples are as follows: deliver meals to recuperating members, do minor household repairs, teach Sunday School, take part in worship services, guide and chaperon the youth group.

The church tithes 10% from its congregational offerings to Outreach, which services faith-based agency needs locally, nationally and internationally. An Outreach Committee spends countless hours going through proposals each year to carefully select the organizations that are to be supported.

Christ Church has recently called the Rev. Bill

Fr. Bill Gandenberger and Wife Sue

 

One might expect that a church with an average member age of 68 might be sedentary and slow, but don't let our age fool you.  We are a small, but vibrant fellowship of orthodox believers who are actively pursuing our Lord's call to ministry.  In the past 12 months we have spent  approximately 10% of our income helping people by paying utility bills, filling automobile gas tanks, purchasing groceries, and providing Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to those in need.  In June, we released our Priest to go to Uganda on mission and contributed nearly 20% of the total costs.  We actively support the Anglican Fourth Day movement, we created a "Two-Can the Toucan" program to remind people to bring two cans of food to church on Sundays to support the local food bank.  And beginning September 2, we will be offering the Alpha Program to the greater High Springs Community.

We make up for our lack of youthfulness with our wisdom in planning and executing outreach to our community.  Our worship space is modest, and we are blessed with a marvelous music leader who plays piano, guitar, and organ.  Sometimes, through the use of modern technology, he actually plays all three at once. Don't ask anyone how he does it; he somehow programs all the music to accompany him as he plays the active instrument. 

We celebrate Holy Communion nearly every Sunday at our 10:00 AM service.  On the third Sunday of the month we invite the public to join us for fellowship luncheon after church, and in months that have a fifth Sunday, we alternate worshipping with our brothers and sisters from Christ Church, Lake City; in August, they will join us for worship.

We offer Sunday School and child care for those families with children who wish to worship with us.  If you plan to be in the area on a Sunday visiting any of the many state or county parks or springs, please plan to worship with us.  We are located at 323 SW County Road 778 (Oak Ridge Road) off US 441, just 4 miles north of High Springs.

For information, please write to us at P.O. Box 414, High Springs, FL 32655 or call Fr. Michael La Cagnina at 386-454-7141.

Christ's Anglican Fellowship

Christ Church, Savannah files appeal to state Supreme Court

Source:  Savannah Morning News

July 29, 2010

 Leaders of Christ Church in Savannah have asked the state's top court to review a July 8 Court of Appeals decision that the church's historic downtown property belongs to the Episcopal Church.

On Wednesday, Christ Church officials appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court a recent ruling of the Georgia Court of Appeals upholding Judge Michael Karpf's decision issued in October 2009 against Christ Church and in favor of the Diocese of Georgia and The Episcopal Church.

That decision upheld the plaintiff's argument that Christ Church holds its property in trust for the Diocese and the national church, based on a 1979 national church canon.

The church had until Wednesday to file documents with the Supreme Court asking it to review the case.

"If we deny it, then it's denied and over," Supreme Court deputy clerk of court Lynn Stinchcomb said on July 15.
   
If the court agrees to hear the case, a final ruling in the two-and-a-half-year-old property dispute between the national Episcopal Church and its former congregation could be postponed months.
  
"The court generally rules on them pretty quickly, within just a few months," Stinchcomb said.

Mini New Wineskins

Saturday August 21st

9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

St. Barnabas recently had 8 of our folks return from New Wineskins at Ridgecrest in North Carolina with a burden for mission, evangelism, and a re-introduction of the ministry of healing in our own parish, and in our diocese.  For those who were unable to attend New Wineskins, as well as those who share this same passion, St. Barnabas plans to offer a series of events over the next 12 months, beginning with a session on healing.  

This initial event on healing will take place on Saturday, August 21st, from 9:00 AM until around 3:00 PM at St. Barnabas Anglican Church (in the parish hall), 3754 University Club Blvd., in Jacksonville.  Our guest speakers will be the Rev. Dr. Pete Wait and Dr. Shirleen Wait, and Mrs. Linda Strickland, of Christian Healing Ministries.  A continental breakfast & lunch will be provided. There will be no cost for this event; however, an offering will be taken up for those who would like to help with the cost.  In order for us to plan for the food, & best set up the room, please RSVP to Keith Howard, at 607-5937, John Eason at 465-2263.

Location

St. Barnabas Anglican Church

3754 University Club Blvd

Jacksonville, FL

See map: Google Maps

Contact: 

jreason@bellsouth.net

Speaker:
Rev. Dr. Pete Wait