Epiphany
Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him. Matthew 2:2 The Feast of Epiphany commemorates the journey of a group of wise men from the East who realized that something unusual was happening in the night sky and began a pilgrimage to find where and to whom the star would lead them. What they found was the Christ, and when they did, they worshipped him. The word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word “epiphaneia” which means “manifestation.” The Feast of Epiphany...
Read MoreEpiphany 2021
Dear Sisters in Christ, During this Pandemic I “feel” that time is moving very quickly which is odd; I would have thought I would be experiencing time dragging out and painfully slow. It seem to me that even with time on my hands it is moving rapidly. In an interesting way time to just sit and be and think is appealing to me. In short doses of course! (I am an extrovert!)We are all on a journey and like the “Wise Men” we move forward in different ways; sometime by returning from where we began. Just as we are...
Read MoreBishop Duncan’s Christmas Letter
From The Rt. Rev. Philip Duncan, National Chaplain December 25, 2020 Each year I prepare for Christmas, and each year I try to think back to the Advents before in hoping to make my process more complete and fruitful in the getting ready. Soon that preparation will be in the past, and Christmas will be here, and I know I will have done my best and that is what is important. None of us is perfect, and Christmas is about God sending all of us His own perfection through The Word Made Flesh: His Son Jesus! I believe we each need...
Read MoreBishop Duncan’s Message Advent 2020
Each year I come to the season of Advent with mixed emotions. I like Advent, and I like Christmas better. Advent is the getting ready for Christmas and how we accomplish that matters. If all of our focus is on Christmas, we miss the opportunity to be ready and refreshed for Christmas. If we rush through the preparations, we might miss the real joy that is promised. “Come thou long expected Jesus” is our expectation that God has already fulfilled! It is ours to claim! Yes, there may be things we want to do before our family celebrations or...
Read MoreA Message from Chris Butterworth
Dear Sisters in Christ,Well here we are again. Advent 2020. We have spent most of the year waiting – waiting for Covid to end, waiting for a vaccine; waiting for the election (no matter where you stand.) Now, we are approaching Advent – a season of waiting. Oh boy – more waiting.I was asked to lead a book study at our friend’s church over at the next town. I picked a book called “Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting” by Holly Whitcomb; it is an Advent study. The seven spiritual gifts of waiting are: Patience, Living in the Present, Compassion,...
Read MoreAdvent and the Great Pumpkin
Watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin”, Charlie Brown with my grandchildren on Halloween, the movie seemed a strange story for children on what is for most a candy filled, fun holiday. Linus waits and waits and waits, accompanied only by the somewhat reluctant Sally, for the coming of the Great Pumpkin whom he assures his friends will come bringing gifts to all sincere believers. In spite of the ridicule of his friends, he waits. He is certain the Great Pumpkin is coming. But the Great Pumpkin doesn’t come, and Linus’ friends, finally even Sally, leave him alone and shivering in...
Read More
