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Though we are still in the Season of Christmas, the calendar has turned round to a new year which marks 2009 years since our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ walked the earth. As I watched the New Year’s celebration on TV, with the crowds and lights and noise, I suddenly saw, in my mind’s eye, an image of the Lord Jesus standing on the rock on the Mount of Olives. As he said goodbye to his beloved disciples, he began to rise in the air and ascend so high until a cloud covered him from their sight.As they gazed into the bright sky, an angel appeared to them and said something like this: “What are you men doing, just standing and staring at the sky. “ The angel was saying that God has work for the disciples on this earth. The first glimpse of Christ, our God, was when he came down from heaven to be born as a glorious baby in Bethelem. The last glimpse of him was when he stood on the rock and ascended back to heaven. And the the angel gave them their marching orders saying Go ye into all the world and share the Good News of the Kingdom of God. This is the Gospel in a nutshell. You and I stand in that space where there is no time.We call it “Eternal Life.” It begins with the indescribable gift of Salvation. And we thank God for this gift as we celebrate the three great feasts of the church: Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. May the Lord cover you with his love in this New Year.
Fr. Hammond
ANIMA CHRISTI
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesu, hear me. Within thy wounds, hide me. Suffer me not to be separated from Thee. From the malicious enemy, defend me. In the hour of my death, call me, and bid me come to Thee. That with Thy saints I may praise Thee Forever and ever.
(Ancient Prayer)
THE THREE GIFTS OF THE WISE MEN
- GOLD for a King.
- FRANKINCENSE for God.
- MYRRH for a man who is to suffer and die.
PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
Please join our Parish in praying for spiritual awakening in the church and in the world. It is not the market which determines our future but the Lord our God. Many times, in the Bible and in church history, God has sent a revival of His Holy Spirit in answer to the prayer of His people. In the revival in Wales, 1904-06, Evan Roberts, one of the 100 pastors God used in Wales, gave four points as essential to revival: 1. All sin must be confessed. The church must be cleansed. 2. There must be no cloud between the believer and God. Have you forgiven everybody? 3. We must obey the Holy Spirit. 4. There must be public confessions of Christ as Savior.
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