Which Church Do You Belong To? Maybe you recognize that there is a “spiritual” dimension to the universe beyond the physical things we can see, but you don’t go to church, or church is not a significant part of your life. To you we say, “Come and join us!” Why do we say this? Are … [Read more…]
Welcome to St. Barnabas! Perhaps you have passed our church a few times and considered attending a service, but you wonder what will happen. For a preview, it’s easy to find a free online copy of the 2019 ACNA Prayer Book: https://bcp2019.anglicanchurch.net/ We usually follow the Eucharist service that starts on page 105. You can … [Read more…]
That is what Obi-Wan Kenobi says to Luke Skywalker when he introduces him to the “force” in the first Star Wars movie ( Episode IV, A New Hope). When that movie came out, many people noticed that there were strong overtones of Christianity. There is no “force,” of course, but Christians do claim to have … [Read more…]
In Seattle we have just passed through record-breaking heat. In years gone by, preachers could have used this as a mild foretaste of the hellish flames awaiting the ungodly. The modern Anglican style may be less colorful, but we should not lose sight of an important fact: all of us will live eternally (that is … [Read more…]
June 11 is the day set aside by the Church to remember St. Barnabas. He is described in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. His name was Joseph. Barnabas or “son of consolation” was apparently a nickname. Acts 4: 36. He probably knew Jesus. After the Resurrection, to help the infant Church he … [Read more…]
We have completed the great cycle of Lent, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost. Now the Church enters “Ordinary Time.” This does not imply that the time is undistinguished, only that we are now counting Sundays by their relationship to Pentecost (the Second Sunday after Pentecost, the Third Sunday after Pentecost, etc.). “First,” “Second,” “Third” and the … [Read more…]
After Jesus’ resurrection, he was with his followers for 40 days, comforting and teaching them. Then he vanished from their sight after telling them to stay in Jerusalem until they were “baptized with the Holy Spirit.” They found out what that meant ten days later on the Jewish feast of Pentecost (commemorating the early summer … [Read more…]
Alcuin (pronounced aelkwin) was born about 730 near York into a noble family related to Willibrord, the first missionary to the Netherlands. He was educated at the cathedral school in York under Archbishop Egbert, a pupil of Bede. He thus inherited the best traditions of learning and zeal of the early English Church. After ordination … [Read more…]
What Is Your Life About? We are bombarded with messages encouraging us to indulge our impulses (and buy things!) to be happy. That doesn’t work. Why? Because we are not made to indulge our impulses. What are we made for? To love God and live with him forever. Here is how to do that: It … [Read more…]
Today is the feast of the Ascension of Our Lord. We recall the conclusion of 40 days after Easter in which Our Lord Ascended to the Father. We prepare for the sending of the Holy Spirit ten days from today at the Feast of Pentecost. The sermon is titled: “Divine Distancing” and we consider what … [Read more…]
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