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ND thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold. And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial. (Exodus 28:9-12)
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E also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
Next week, on 17 November we embark upon our 60th year as a Communion of churches separate and distinct from that larger body called the Anglican Communion. Following the counsel of the Lord, we have altered our course, and returned to the Faith of our Reformation Fathers under the guidance of our founding Bishop, James Parker Dees. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (2 Cor 6:17) During these past fifty-nine years, the Lord has been gracious unto us. He has sustained our strength, He has preserved our testimony, and He has kept us a people anointed and empowered with Truth, Love, Faith, and pure Doctrine.
The path has been fraught with seeming impossibilities. The foe has resisted us at every point, but our people, strong in spirit, have persevered on the Way they know, by Faith and the Written Word, to be the Holy Way. Many of our best and brightest have passed from this earthly struggle to their reward with Him who first loved them. They are our stones of remembrance. We have graven their names in our hearts and upon our memories. Their courage, in holding high the Light of the Gospel Ensign, has sustained and encouraged us to continue on the Field of Battle and to forsake not the Ancient Landmark with which the Lord of Hosts has entrusted us. Many of our people grow old, but their spirit is not diminished by any loss of hope or valor. They, and those whose passing we memorialize, are the lively stones always before the Face of our Lord.
May our future be undiminished in the ardency that has characterized our past. May our efforts be doubled, and redoubled, as we approach that Day of Reckoning when every man shall give an account of himself before the Lord.
As we each eagerly seek to serve the Lord and His people, may we be blessed with a double measure of the Spirit with which Elisha the Prophet was blessed.
