Anglican Orthodox Churchsm
Worldwide Communion
Rogation Sunday
Sunday Report
May 25, 2025
Fifth Sunday after Easter Propers:
The propers are special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of England in the 1540’s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of Canterbury after the re-founding.
The propers are the same each year, except if a Red-Letter Feast, that is one with propers in the prayerbook, falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read instead, except in a White Season, where it is put off. Red Letter Feasts, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks the titles are in red, are special days. Most of the Red-Letter Feasts are dedicated to early saint’s instrumental in the development of the church, others to special events. Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day is to be used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent or Lent. The Propers for today are found on page 175-177
The Collect for Fifth Sunday after Easter
O LORD, from whom all good things do come; Grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that are good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Epistle for Fifth Sunday after Easter. St. James i. 22.
BE ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
The Gospel for the Fifth Sunday after Easter. St. John xvi. 23.
VERILY, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
On Point
Someone asked, where do the quotes come from? The answer is from the people who uttered them. But, how did you find them? Oh, that.
Some from Bishop Jerry, others from Rev. Geordie and many from Rev Bryan Dabney and a few from other places.
Rev. Geordie Menzies-Grierson – England (above)
Points to Ponder:
Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt
thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Psalm 37:34
O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be
thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
Isaiah 33:2
For many are called, but few are chosen.
St. Matthew 22:14
The serpentine nature still continues in the world.
The great serpent himself reigns as the god of this world. Wonder not then that
the serpentine world hates and hisses at you who belong to the seed of the
woman that is to bruise the serpent’s head.
The Rev. Matthew Henry
Increase in faith by studying the scriptures. For you,
fellow Christians, are the tools of God. For thus through you he works his will
upon the earth, that you might be eternally blessed and our Lord eternally
glorified.
The Rev. Bryan Dabney – St. John’s AOC, Mississippi
We all have the stain of Adam, the sin that the first
couple introduced into the world; we are all under that curse. But unless we
are taught that this is so, we will go about our lives in total ignorance of
what is wrong in our lives. The promised Holy Spirit, the Comforter that Christ
Jesus told his followers was coming after Christ ascended into heaven, would be the
guiding force to teach us right from wrong... This teaching of right from wrong
is not being done in our churches today. BECAUSE the churches have left the
Truth and have gone after the World; abandoning the faith once given to it so
many centuries ago. The church has sought popularity and acceptance as a badge
of success and in doing so the church has allowed the world to go to Hell and
in many cases faithful members sitting in those pews week after week. They are
not being told the Truth. Unfortunately the idea of “Justice” is the theme
point of many of these protests and acts of civil disobedience. Here is the
real problem. When you ask someone to define “justice”,you will get some vague
and airy definition of all living in some type of peace and cooperation. Then
you ask for what type of peace and cooperation are you talking about; it is
usually some type of socialism/communism promise of equality here on earth. One
must gently break it to these well meaning seekers of justice, you will NEVER
find that type of peace on earth. Why? Fallen mankind will see to that.
Roy Morales-Kuhn – Anglican Orthodox Bishop and Pastor -St. Paul's
Anglican Church.
Every post is honorable in which a man can serve his
country.
George Washington
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time,
and your government when it deserves it.
Mark Twain
Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means
a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.
G.K. Chesterton
America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand. Harry S. Truman
“Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20)
I AM THERE!
When the winter winds are blowing,
And the Crystal Streams are flowing,
And the green tipped buds are showing,
I AM THERE!
When the Springs of water rise,
and the clouds depart the skies,
and the heart becomes more wise,
I AM THERE!
When the floods of life grow weaker,
and the Heavens grow yet bleaker,
and the prideful Spirit meeker,
I AM THERE!
When the wild soul grows more humble,
and the mighty ones shall stumble,
and the storms of life do rumble,
I AM THERE!
When off your yoke of terror,
You cast and turn from error,
and the love of God feels dearer,
I AM THERE!
~Jerry L. Ogles~
copyright 2001
The Most Rev. Jerry L. Ogles
The Anglican Orthodox Church SM
founder: the most rev. james parker dees, a.b., b.d., d.d. • founded November 16, 1963
2228 Wilkesboro Hwy. • P. O. Box 128 • Statesville, North
Carolina 28687- 0128
Telephone 704.873.8365
Email: aocworldwide@gmail.com
• Web: www.aocinternational.org
The Most Rev. Jerry L.
Ogles - Presiding Bishop
Bishop’s Memorial Day Letter – 26 May 2025
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:25)
The trumpet sounds from Concord to Arlington, from Flanders to Guadalcanal, from hillsides and prairies of public and private cemeteries in all states of the Union, and from so many distant and lonely National Cemeteries around the world –the bugler’s solemn station sounds the last farewell to gallant sacrifices of America’s best from every corner of the American nation.
Following the War Between the States, both southern and northern, mothers and daughters of the fallen established days of remembrance at which times the graves of their fallen loved ones could be decorated. That day became known in the South as Decoration Day, and in the North, Memorial Day.
The blood of America’s youth has watered the seeds of liberty not only for our own, but for peoples around the world ‘yearning to be free.’
The taps of a thousand, of a million, buglers echo across the peaceful meadows and verdant plains of our homeland - and that blood-bought peace is the product of gallant and arduous courage of our finest and best. They slumber in honored repose in the rich soil of American liberty that has always required sacrifice to preserve.
One of our great Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, has truly declared the reality of the duty to defend one’s homeland and liberties: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
This Memorial Day, I remember my young brother, Ken; my Navy Uncle Ernest; my great grandfathers and other relatives; and the many additional unsung heroes of Liberty of many families who have cherished liberty enough to lay down their lives in its defense.
May God renew our Godly faith and commitment to the only Liberty that can be sustained by a
Christian people under God.
In Christ Alone during Eastertide,
† Jerry Ogles
Presiding Bishop.
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide & Chancellor,
Faith Theological Seminary
Jerry Ogles, Presiding Bishop – Metropolitan AOC Worldwide
We are fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s you tube links, devotions on the Prayer of the Collect and sermon notes.
Bishop Jerry creates videos on various subjects, they last just under ten minutes and this week’s videos are listed below:
Bishop Ogles has a You Tube Channel that is free to subscribe: all of his videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuW3bgXBJFomPB5mZ4Oigxg
Names of Christ Series: Christ Our Peace
Click link: https://youtu.be/S802w5isxe0
From the Providence and Grace Series: The Lost Coin
Click link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtjoc8a8lwY
Requiem to the American Soldier - Memorial Day 2025
Mine eyes have searched the battlefields, two hundred
years ago,
And fixed upon my Fathers...with crosses row-on-row.
Their blood has nourished Courage and Ardent Virtue bought.
They stood in battle bravely - and fought the wars they fought.
The mist of years have softened, but the battle’s heat
I feel:
Their lines sway like a banner as they charge up San Juan Hill.
In timeless sleep they stagger, beneath a khaki sky,
But stand forth ever ready, to fight, to win, or die.
On Chickamauga’s creek beds, and Santiago’s slopes
They fought as ones be-knighted, defending cherished
hopes.
From the Ardennes’ bloody contest, to the walls of old Bastogne
American blood and courage Have gained the Heights alone.
The shots at Concord township, join those of
Gettysburg,
And those fired at Fort Sumter, around the world were heard.
The beaches red at Normandy, and those of Inchon’s shores
Were bought and paid by courage, yet still the battle roars.
The Marines on Iwo Jima, and Troops at Kasserine Pass,
Gave force to Freedom’s mandate, that
right prevail at last.
The Airmen over Bremen, and Naval Guns at Guam,
Brought thunder out of Heaven, ere Peace could bring the
Calm.
On Mekong Delta’s paddies, and Khe Son’s rugged slopes
The Grand Old Flag was lifted, with clear and crispy
notes.
America’s youth and valor, were tested, tried and torn
But pressed on proud and bravely,
despite the Traitor’s scorn.
From desert dunes and wadies, en route to old Baghdad,
and in Fallujah’s ghetto’s,
where Satan’s seat was had,
The rich, brave notes of freedom sounded through the gloom,
where angels of the battle brought despotism’s
doom.
To you, you Knights of Valor, Press on the torch of
Right.
Reclaim the trailing Ensign, Restore the Shining Light.
The Light of Freedom’s promise, The hope of present years,
Are now the struggle’s object, though won through Sweat and Tears.
A City, Bright and Gleaming, stands grandly on the
Rise.
The blood-bought fruits of Freedom beneath the Azure
Skies,
Are all our Fathers fought for, and freely bled and paid
So you and I could know them, before the
glory fades.
With God our hope established in pastures Green with
Love
And all our National Treasures, a gift from Him above,
We have no right to wander from Truth or Light or Trust,
But to the Throne of Mercy, our March is Good and Just.
~by Jerry Ogles, Bishop, Anglican Orthodox Church ©2003 JOgles
Bishop of Alabama
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
We are always happy to get the instruction and devotions that Bp Morley is giving to us. We hope you enjoy the following:
The Five Most Important Questions of Life
After years of teaching Bible Study classes to young and old from all denominations, I have narrowed the focus of each session to five questions to be answered based on whatever Bible truths are being examined. The questions are:
Who is God?
Who is Jesus Christ?
Who is "the Church?"
What is the Bible?
How do you get to Heaven?
Another question I often pose, related to all the above, is - what is the Gospel? Most people think they know the answer and question the need to examine our answers but there is indeed a need to consider what we may presume to be true, whether we are right in our assumptions, or dangerously wrong. Answers may be as varied as the people attending, but ultimately there is one answer which stands above the rest.
Many will say, "the Gospel is found in the four Gospels" or "the Sermon on the Mount" or "that Jesus died for our sins on Calvary" or "I believe in the Resurrection." There is some truth to be gleaned from all these statements but they are only partial answers to a much deeper consideration. You can read the four Gospels all day long and still not really know the Gospel. The Sermon on the Mount was preached by Jesus but says nothing about His death on the Cross. A better answer may be found in saying that Jesus died for our sins on Calvary and belief in the Resurrection is certainly essential to our Faith - but are these the definitive answer to the question?
So many people today, including many who claim to be Christians, doubt the authorship and authority of the four Gospels. Most modern seminaries now teach what is called "Higher Criticism" of the New Testament which suggests that the Gospels were not written by the men whose name they bear but by committees of writers centuries after the death of the Apostles. According to these "scholars" the N.T. was redacted to present their understanding of a small number of manuscripts of antiquity. Most modern Bible translations are based on this theory and so, most Bible studies reflect this understanding of what 'the Gospel" might be.
Likewise, many believe that the words of Jesus were added by the four evangelists "after the fact" and they were doctored to provide early Christians with formulas for the new faith. The Lord's Prayer, for example, was added by the authors as a formula for prayer was not actually spoken by Jesus in the context in which it is found in the New Testament. So also, the Sermon on the Mount is a formula for Christian living and may be taken as complete in itself, apart from the rest of what Jesus actually said.
Sad to say, many Christians believe they are saved simply by making a public statement regarding their personal faith in Jesus, and praying what is often called "the sinner's Prayer" is necessary for their salvation. Some do not hold with the substitutionary atonement of Jesus or the truth of imputed righteousness as given so clearly by St. Paul throughout his Epistles and confirmed by St. Peter in his. Many think they have embraced "the Gospel" by responding to an "altar call" or by being baptized or confirmed in a church ceremony. In many churches today, doubt is cast on the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus - and these churches still say they hold with the Gospel and preach it as well.
But always remember that the Devil believes what the Bible says, every jot and tittle, even if some Christians do not. He was there at the Beginning when man fell from Grace. He was present at Jesus' Birth and does not doubt His Lordship. He knows that man does not live by bread alone. He was there at the Cross and saw the Empty Tomb. He does not doubt the ascension, where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father - and he never will.
So then, if Satan knows and believes all these things to be true, what Is the Gospel? It cannot be a simple assent to certain facts, which men are free to either accept or reject. St. Paul provides an answer in his "gospel" to the Galatians, chapter 2 verse 20: "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not but Christ liveth in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh I live by THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, who loved me and gave himself for me." That is THE GOSPEL and that is what we must believe.- that is, personal IDENTIFICATION with the death, burial, and Resurrection of Christ. We are baptized into his Death and we rise with Him because He conquered sin and death. "If ye then be risen with Christ," Paul announces to the Corinthians - our Easter Epistle - "seek ye things that are above..."
Note, it is not the strength of OUR FAITH that gives new life - it is the FAITH OF CHRIST by which we are to live. Peter thought he had great faith. He walked and talked with Jesus for three years. He loved Christ so much he thought he could walk on water. When that faith was tested in the Garden in Pilate's courtyard, that faith failed. But Christ gave Peter a Faith which never fails, that carried him through a martyr's death all the way to Heaven. That should be our Faith. That's the Faith of the Gospel. Now you know what the Gospel really is. Do you believe it?
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+CEM
Bishop of the Diocese of the West – AOC USA
Education and Training
Church of the Faithful Centurion
Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide
Bp Jack brings the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday.
Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we continue to celebrate Jesus’ delivery of the promise of life eternal with Him in our life to come. Easter, perhaps better referred to as the Day of the Resurrection is when the promise of eternal life is delivered.
Let’s start by reading the Collect for today:
The
Collect for The Fifth Sunday after Easter,
commonly called Rogation Sunday.
O LORD, from whom all good things do come; Grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that are good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
We are in the Easter Season which consists of Easter and the following four Sundays, through Rogation Sunday. This is a time we should work on centering our lives on the central figure in our religion, Jesus Christ.
Consider these words from the Collect:
… by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that are good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same …
As we near the Ascension and thus Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Ghost, we ask for God’s “holy inspiration we may think those things that are good.” The collect is pointing out that we need assistance to think good thoughts! Naturally on our own, we are incapable of thinking good. This is because we are imperfect and sinful beings. We need the help of God, who is not any of those things in order to have good thoughts enter into our hearts souls and mind. And it is not just thinking, the collect also says “and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same.” So once we have thought those good thoughts, we don’t stop there. We need then to continue on and perform good actions!
In short, we need God’s help to think good thoughts and then to act upon those good thoughts which when translated into action are good deeds. The point of the Collect is without God’s help, we cannot think or do anything that is truly righteous. Only by having God help us are we capable of any righteous actions.
In his Epistle, James makes the point we gain our salvation through the freely given gift of Grace by our Lord Jesus Christ. Once given, it must be accepted. If we truly accept the gift, it will be evident in our actions. James makes the point that if you are going to be a Christian you have to ACT like a Christian. We are not just to think good and Christian thoughts, we are called to live out those thoughts by our actions to make our faith known to other believers and the world. A person who calls themselves a Christian can and will talk the talk or portions thereof, but will they walk the walk? That is the real test if they are a Christian or not. That is how you can tell also if a “Christian” minister, bishop, or priest is a Christian or not. If their actions do not match that of Scripture, then you can be fairly well certain that they are not Christian. We have to back up our faith with actions in order to show that we do indeed have faith. As the tag line to my sermons goes, action and not diction is what counts in the very end.
Like many concepts found in Christianity, backing up our faith with actions will be very difficult sometimes, but it must be done and is part of what being a Christian is about.
We must align our lives to be able to show people we do follow Christ. There are too many people who claim to be Christians, who are clearly not, because their lives do not reflect their stated belief. We must not let this happen. We must show the truth of John 14:6, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. To show this truth we have to live that truth through our actions. It is not just enough to say we know the Word of God, if we truly know the Word of God, we will act upon that Word of God and serve Him in this life.
Without Christ’s guiding light, we are not on the path to holiness and righteousness. We must show this in our lives, by living and breathing His Word, and using His Word to guide us throughout our lives. These are all actions we naturally take which demonstrate we have belief and are acting upon that belief. This is important to our souls for our spiritual health, and as well as our physical health too. We need all the Help of the Holy Ghost to keep us on this path. How do we keep on this path?
We find a lot of help in John’s words, he gives us insight into things which none of the other disciples do. We need help. We pray for help. Pray for help that we might act, and that is how we keep on the straight, narrow and uphill path. So, what about prayer? Let’s start with to whom do we pray?
Jesus is pretty clear. Don’t pray to Him, pray to God. We are not to pray to saints or Mary like the Romans do, but pray to God. Feel free to use His Name. Pray to God in His Name. In effect, we are CC’ing (Carbon Copying, to use an archaic term which as transitioned to an electronic mail (email) term) Jesus in our prayers. We are not to put Him in the To: line, but the CC line. Not addressing Him directly, but to address God directly with Jesus copied, as it were. He tells us God loves us because we love Jesus. But, pray to God. I think not many people understand this part of scripture, as I have heard people pray to Jesus when he is not the correct person to address your prayers to. He specifically tells us to direct the prayers to His Father who will help us.
If we will pray to God, we can be certain He will answer us and provide us with the best counsel. It doesn’t matter if we like God’s answer or not, we still have to listen to it and do it anyway, knowing it will be the right path in the end. In the end, listening to God and doing what He says will be easier for us in the long run than if we ignore God’s answer and do what we wish to do. We will always have some sort of a struggle with this in our lives, but if we turn to God, He will help us win our struggle.
We have to realize what we truly need is different from what we want, and ask that He will open our hearts, minds and souls to His answer that we might act upon His answer. The critical portion is we act upon the answer that we are given, to do our best for Him so our friends, family and coworkers and neighbors might see the light we shine for Him and see who we follow in word and in deed.
So, pray to God, ask for what you want in Jesus’ Name. He always listens and He always delivers. The problem for us is He delivers what we need, not necessarily what we want. Our wants and our needs are oft different, in fact they are seldom the same. But we should want what we need, and God will help us understand if we be a doer and a hearer of His Word. He will always give us what we need, but will we listen to what He wants us to do?
Need and want, they are both four letter words, oft used interchangeably, which do not mean the same thing.
God’s Will is always done, we just don’t understand. Accept what happens as acceptable, so long as you have done all you can. In the end, all that counts is where you go when you leave here. That depends on your actions in following Jesus’ instructions. If you believe, you are safe. Now and forever.
Talk the Talk; and Walk the Walk.
It is an uphill trail. The easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.
The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?
It is by our actions we are known.
Be of God - Live of God - Act of God
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Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi -
Sunday Sermon
We are fortunate to have Bryan’s Sunday Sermon. If you want people
to come to The Truth, you have to speak the truth, espouse the truth
and live the truth. This is really a good piece and I commend it to your
careful reading.
Rogation Sunday Sermon
Agreeable with this understanding is our epistle lesson from the apostle James wherein he reminded his hearers, Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (1:22-25).
Consider our Lord’s charge to the disciples— and by extension to us— in the Great Commission: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen (St. Matthew 28:19-20). Be ye also doers in these things.
Think also on the words of St. Peter in his first epistle when he called on Christians to, sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ (3:15-16). Having an answer for what God has done for you is part and parcel of our lives lived in his service. It is thus a reflection of our faith in action.
Those who have been regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit will, as the apostle Paul wrote in his second epistle to St. Timothy, not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (2:24-26). Twice we have heard the command to avoid harshness in our witness on our Lord’s behalf (II St. Timothy 2 and I St. Peter 3). We are not to answer in hardness of heart, neither in arrogance, but in meekness hoping that our message will be received and the listener turned unto God for redemption.
As I have said in other places, do not insist on having the last word in your witness. God will. The witness of our faith— the evidence of the hope that is within us in Christ Jesus— ought to be taught authoritatively but in meekness. In the final analysis, it is up to the unregenerate to decide for themselves. You cannot compel them to be saved. You cannot browbeat them with threats of damnation. That is not to say that if they ask about the consequences, you might then speak of their need to avoid God’s approaching wrath. Nevertheless, our focus ought to be on God’s love as well as his desire that all would turn from their sins and trespasses and be saved.
Being a doer and not hearer only also requires us to resist the snares and assaults of the Devil. Our heavenly Father knew us from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). And he also knew that we would face numerous temptations. And further, he knew that we would be by our own best efforts powerless against Satan and his principality of darkness. That is why he intervened on our behalf via his only begotten Son. For through our Lord’s atoning work at the cross, he spoiled principalities and powers, making a shew of them openly, triumphing over them... (Colossians 2:15). And soon after his resurrection and ascension, our Lord sent the Holy Ghost to aid and comfort his own. The apostle Paul’s message in I Corinthians 10:13 clearly sets forth his graciousness toward us, for as he wrote: There hath no temptation taken you but such is common man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it. And in like fashion, God’s Spirit informed St. James the Just that we are to, resist the devil, and he will flee from you (4:7).
Now a word of warning is in order at this point. The Devil will not flee from us if we are not sincere in our Christian faith. He will not flee as long as he has an opportunity to take advantage of any unconfessed sin in our lives, or if we have an unforgiving spirit, or hatred in hearts toward others around us. But he will flee when the blood of Christ comes upon and covers every penitent sinner. He will flee when true Christians stalwartly defend the word of God against the Devil’s cadre of false ministers. And he will flee when those who have been born again acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour both before others and in their private devotions. He knows such persons to be a “lost cause” as their names are inscribed in the LORD’s book of life. Ergo, he will go after the ones that are— as the old folks would say— “easy pick’ns”.
So then being a doer of the word will require us to keep the doors of our hearts open to the Master's call. And in so doing, we should set aside time each day for prayer and meditation on God’s word written. And we ought to lay before him our cares and concerns, our triumphs as well as our failings and willfulness. Additionally, we ought to offer up our intercessory prayers for others as well as our prayers of thanksgiving for all he has done for them. Via those things mentioned such will make us receptive to God’s still, small voice even as we are speaking to him. So seek to be a doer and not a hearer only of God’s word written. Trust him as the only wise God. Accept his word written as truth and live by it to his glory and your eternal good. We are not promised a storm-free life only a safe harbor in the end. Still, he is with us all the way. If we will have faith, he will see to our needs, calm the stormy seas of this life and help us through every trial and trouble until he either comes for us at the last or at our homecoming at the conclusion of this life. And with that in mind, let us close with St. Paul’s instruction to young Timothy in his second epistle: For I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing (4:6-8). Therefore be that doer of God’s word and rejoice in the power of his most holy Spirit.
Let us pray,
Father assist us as we walk our pilgrim path to your kingdom; and enable our witness on your behalf to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; for these things we ask in the name of thy Son and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Have a blessed week,
Bryan+
Saint Paul's Anglican Church
Diocese of the Midwest Anglican Orthodox Church
Suffragan Bishop of the AOC
Sermon for Rogation Sunday
Psalms: 65, 67; First lesson: Ezekiel 34:25-31; Second lesson: Luke 11:1-13
Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth, in whom we live, move and have our being, who does good unto all men, making thy sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sending rain on the just and the unjust; favourably behold us thy people, who do call upon thy name, and send us thy blessing from heaven, in giving us fruitful seasons, and filling our hearts with food and gladness; that both our hearts and mouths may be continually filled with thy praises, giving thanks to thee in thy holy Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
hymns # 369,375,376
Rogation Sunday
“The origin of these Rogation Days seems to be an order by Mamertus, the Bishop of Vienne in about AD 470. After an earthquake he instructed that special litanies be offered for God’s care and protection, asking for provision by heaven of the fruit of the earth. The custom spread through Gaul, to England and to Rome. In England the custom was required by Canon 16 of the Council of Clovesho in 747.
The Rogation Days survived the Reformation in England and thus in 1559 we find Queen Elizabeth requiring by Royal Injunction the restoration of a perambulation of the parish boundaries/fields to pray for a good harvest. Likewise, in 1562 the official [Second] Book of Homilies included “An Homily for the Days of Rogation Week”, which was divided into three parts in keeping with the 3 Rogation Days.1
The Rogation Days were typically kept by the clergy and people processing around the parish boundaries, while saying or singing prayers. It is from these Rogation Day prayers, as they are found in the Sarum Missal, that Cranmer formulated the Litany (1545), which was his first work of liturgical reform.2
After this it became the custom that in any parish in which the Rogation Day procession was not being observed, the Litany was sung in the church instead. Rogation Sunday and the Rogation Days that follow remind us that the members of the Church militant on earth need to be fed both by the fruit of the earth [thus the need for supplication in Rogation and thanksgiving at Harvest] and by the gifts, graces, virtues and characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ, who ascends into heaven to be our exalted Prophet, Priest and King. The week containing Holy Thursday and the three Rogation Days is thus very important.
In the American Church the theme of the Rogation Days has been largely taken up into Thanksgiving Day, which is peculiar to The United States. Thanksgiving Day is a civil holiday for which the church provides a set of propers suitable to the observance. The date is set by civil authority in the Fall, at harvest time rather than at planting time, so it conflicts with another religious observance, namely football season.
In the old tradition of the Ecclesia Anglicana and of the Catholic Church in the west, the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before the Feast of the Ascension are called Rogation Days. These days of fasting and abstinence are preparation for the feast of the Ascension. The Rogation Days are much neglected in today’s church, but if we are to have a Harvest Festival (Great Britain) or a Thanksgiving Day (USA), it makes good sense to observe the Rogations Days, as these days are the days upon which special supplication for fruitful seasons and a good harvest are made to God. Furthermore, the spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer that are meant to characterize the 3 Rogation Days is a means by which we prepare for our celebration of Christ’s glorious ascension, which we will observe on Holy Thursday (the 40th day after his mighty resurrection).” © Peter Toon and Jason Patterson
There is also an attempt to preempt the Rogation Days with another secular observance, namely "Earth Day". Now please don't get me wrong. Such issues as pollution and conservation of natural resources and carbon footprints, and the need to share God's bounty are certainly important matters. But the rational for Earth Day is essentially secular and perhaps even pagan rather than Christian. It harks back to the old nature worship that was associated with the goddess that some have called "Gaia" and most of us call "Mother Earth". Nevertheless our duty as stewards of God's creation requires us to pay attention to them, and the Rogation Days remind us of that. Now let us reflect on the two psalms that are set aside for this Rogation Sunday. Notice that the psalmist is making sure we know from where our blessings emanate:
9Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. 10Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. 11Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. 12They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. 13The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing. (Psalm 65:9-13)
Then we can also read of God’s providence, His sovereign power over His creation as we see reflected in this next verse. It is clear that God chooses us, not we choosing God. 4Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. (Psalm 65:4)
And then continuing the overall blessing from God, we read in Psalm 67 more layers of blessings that come from the hand of our creator, which He bestows upon us. 1God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. 2That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. 3Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 4O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. 5Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 6Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 7God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
In the verses above we find interwoven between the blessing from God the imperative to worship God with praise and heartfelt gratitude for those blessings. Being that these verses were to be sung, try to imagine what it would have been like in those days to sing these praises and words of thanksgiving to God.
So as we think of the concept of Rogation Sunday, the idea that we reflect on those gifts God has given us in a blessed land, let us praise Him from whom all blessings flow. We should at all times and all places give thanks for the blessings God has given us.
This weekend is set aside for remembrance of those who served and sacrificed their lives to ensure our freedoms and liberties. It is imperative that we remember those who came before us, having stepped up to service lost their lives in said service. Let us remember and give thanks for those who answered the call. Let us thank God for our nation, our freedom, and our ability to worship God in peace. There are many places in the world today where this peace is not possible. Let us not take these freedoms for grant it. Let us take a few moments this coming Monday to remember the men and women who sacrificed their lives to ensure our liberty. And may the following come to being soon: 7God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Let us pray:
THE Almighty Lord, who is a most strong tower to all them that put their trust in him, to whom all things in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, do bow and obey, be now and evermore thy defence; and make thee know and feel, that there is none other name under heaven given to man, in whom and through whom thou mayest receive health and salvation, but only the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
O SAVIOUR of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord, who by thy Cross and precious Blood that redeemed us. Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord. Amen.
+Roy Morales-Kuhn
Rev. David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama
We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian
Rogation Sunday
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: … I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
I suppose if we were truthful and we were asked what is one thing we desire in this life more than anything else it would be "peace." I think this is something we really need. On Friday mornings my schedule is to prepare the Sunday sermon, and this is one I wish I could study all day, as I have meditated on it all week --- it does not seem to fill my cup yet totally.
When I was in the service I tried to bring a little peace to the married couples and single Soldiers in our units. I would bring them to various places to give them a break from the hum drum of the routine of military life. We traveled to various places such as the redwoods of California, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin area, and to the Carmel beach near Monterey, CA. The Koreans had a retreat center all the way on the top of the mountain overlooking Seoul and we went there once a month with a group of Soldiers for the weekend/day. Thomas a Kempis said, "First keep peace with yourself, then you can also bring peace to others." My favorite quote which I saw is from General US Grant, "Let us have peace."
Today, "Let us have peace" John 16:33 said it this way, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." What things? He had told them that they despite being scattered could have trust in the Father and Jesus His Eternal Son and the presence and divinity of the Holy Spirit wherever or whoever they are with in this life.
1. There are some things we are told we have. We have tribulation. That is a fact in this life. The verb tense indicates this in the original language. "In the world ye shall have tribulation." That we know too well. The word is afflictions or sufferings. The little word sounds like thistles in the original language. Matthew 24 is the same little word .... 24:21 "For then shall be great tribulation..." But thankfully we can trust that our Lord has "overcome the world". Again the verb tense is helpful. Our Lord has overcome the world. This is in the past tense, and with future results for us as well as present results. He has overcome and as the Apostle John so aptly reminds in Revelation, we are overcomers. WE overcome because He has already overcome the world.
2. "But be of good cheer."That word is " take courage" and is in the original language "tharséō (from the root thar-, "bolstered because warmed up," derived from 2294 /thársos, "emboldened from within") – properly, bolstered within which supports unflinching courage – literally, to radiate warm confidence (exude "social boldness") because warm-hearted./tharséō ("emboldened to show courage") refers to God bolstering the believer, empowering them with a bold inner-attitude (to be "of good courage"). For the believer, 2293 /tharséō ("showing boldness") is the result of the Lord infusing His strength by His inworking of faith " biblehub.com John 6 :33 greek
Why it that we may have it but we do not seem to? I came across some reasons from a friend of mine :" (FR Peter Preble, an Orthodox priest in Massachusetts) (on these I want you to keep score and if you get 9 or more out of the 12; FR Peter says you are doing quite well; 6-8 is average; and you are obviously trying but there is room to improve; 5 or less is below average and there is room for improvement in your daily life) *Ready?
1. I am willing to forgive myself and others. (if you get half you get half--d)
2. I have a sense of belonging, meaning and purpose in life.
3. I have a belief system.
4. I participate in regular spiritual activities with people who share my beliefs, and I am open to hearing about others' beliefs.
5. I accept my limitations without embarrasment or apology. (that hurts-d)
6. I keep the purpose of my life clearly in mind and let it guide my decision -making. (that one tweaked me-d)
7. I freely give to others.
8. I am comfortable about knowing things without knowing precisely how I know them (intuition).
9. I allow others the freedom to believe what they want without pressuring them to accept my beliefs.
10. I look for and work toward balance when my life is out of balance.
11. I continually explore personal beliefs, values, principles and priorities.
12. Principles, ethics, and morals provide guides for my life."
Now how did we do? Well, we are working on it. No show of hands. If you got 6-8, do not worry. Just keep at it, and realize you have some room for growth, and peace through prayer, trust and confidence that Christ has overcome the world. Remember Jesus said," in my you may have peace." As Christians we have eternal peace with Christ which can never be taken away, but our personal peace can go up and down, can it not????
3. I have overcome the world. It means our Lord has conquered the world.
We are not God. We need His help so many times, and by Him and the Comforter He has sent (Jn 16:7) we are overcomers over the world system of despair, lies and evil. Through our persevering faith we trust Him despite the difficulties and trials. He has overcome, and call us overcomers as well in His Revelation also written by John.
Conclusion: Let me read again what Charles Erdman said in his little book on John, "the 16th chapter (John) enlarges upon the life which results from faith, a life in which in which the Lord by the power of His indwelling Spirit, makes real His gracious presence, gives increasing knowledge of the truth and confidence in prayer, inspires heroic courage, and secures abiding peace."
Rev. David McMillan+
AOC Worldwide Prayer List –
I have received updates from a few and those will be the first added to the list. Please send all prayer requests and updates to aocworldwide@gmail.com for future reports. If you would like to be removed from list just respond with remove in the subject line.
Prayer Needed:
Wayne McMaster – hospice care
Jeff Maraman - at the fire academy in Arkansas.
Bobby Bryan, - suffering with cancer and is on chemo-therapy.
Patty Faye and Marie Shipe – traveling around Italy – return May 23 – for safety
Missy Koestler Arnold - mourning the passing of her mother, Joan Koestler.
Lydia Collins - rectal cancer.
Marilee – Mastectomy Update – pathology report stage three, spread to lymph nodes, more surgery
James Cavanah – health issues, new medication tolerance
Sophie – Sever bipolar issues, drug use and difficulty with parents, pray for her parents, Gary & Betsy
Colin and daughter, Lori Beall – cancer
Toni- Breast Cancer- Surgery went well, keep praying for successful recovery treatment-praise god
Donna – Breast Cancer- Surgery Successful onto Radiation treatment and Chemotherapy
Malou – Cancer
Extended Issues need continued prayer;
Laurie with long Covid Symptoms - Extreme exhaustion, heart palpitations, breathing problems and unstable blood pressures are constant worries causing depression to settle in.
Malcom Allred – Cancer Treatment
Katie Pope –treatment for Stage 4 Pulmonary Carcinoma “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)
Mauri Turner – Stomach cancer
For the government and people of South Korea that God will protect
them
from the
forces of Communism.
45th Anniversary of the AOC in the Philippine Islands – Bishop Anthony Pangsiw
Keep Praying for the following:
Shamu-health issues, Mike, Jim, Dotty, Jan Jessup-neuro dementia, Josh Morley-seizures,
Jennifer, AOC USA, AOC Missions, Zach, Jess, Luke, Jacquie, Harper-IBS , Jim Sevier- God’s
Peace, Linda –
multiple myeloma, Colin, Lowery, Robert, Donna-chemotherapy,
Eddie, Aleyda-heart and bp issues, Leslie, Daniel, Jim-TBI issues, Alicia-caregiver
