AOC Two

  A  S  it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  5  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;  6  And all flesh shall see the salvation of God . (Luke 3:4-6)   Mountains are a fascinating land feature. They are sometimes mysterious and brooding, and, at other times, placid and of great physical beauty. If there was a large mountain to which your attention was regularly drawn as a child, that mountain exists pure and serene in your memory as if burnt there with a hot iron. There was such a mountain in my youth – Fort Mountain. Unless the fog was very heavy, or the clouds very low, I could see that mountain every day of my young life. There was such a mountain that held a stronghold in the memory of my mother...

B  ETTER  is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. *  14  For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.  15  I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.    (Ecclesiastes 4:13-15)   AT  the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,  3  And said,  Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven .  4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven .  5  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.   6  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones...

T HEREFORE  the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  (Isaiah 7:14)   A ND  it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  2  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  3  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  4  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  5  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  6  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  7  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the in...

   Today we recall Saint John - Apostle and Evangelist, superseding the First Sunday after Christmas! The AOC Sunday Report can be downloaded  RIGHT HERE ! We have very interesting sermons from Bishops Jerry and Roy, as well as Revs Jack and Bryan.  I am confident you will find each of them interesting and informative.  I read each of them, after all, I do edit them.  I enjoyed Jack's, but perhaps that is because I heard him deliver it.  Anyway, I really like them all.  The guys do a great job every week, we are so lucky they are on our side! I know there are always a lot of people asking for prayers, this is no exception.  If you would take the time to pray for a few each day, it would be appreciated.    Think about Shamu who has had 27 abdominal surgeries and is now in John Hopkins Hospital with a bacterial infection in her blood.  They do not know the source of the infection, they think it might be in her heart.  S...

Sermon - Rev Jack Arnold Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords above.    Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist. [December  27 .] The Collect.   M ERCIFUL  Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church, that it, being illumined by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen .    The Christmas Collect is found on Page 96:   The Nativity of our Lord, or the Birthday of Christ, commonly called Christmas Day. [December 25.] The Collect.   A LMIGHTY  God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may da...

    Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist. [December  27 .] The Collect.   M ERCIFUL  Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church, that it, being illumined by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen .    T HIS  spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him,  Follow me .  20   Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?  21   Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?  22   Jesus saith unto him,  If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me .  23   Then went this saying abroad among the brethre...

The Propers are found on Page 101-102, with the Collect first:   There are three Collects today:   1.       One for the Feast Day 2.       One for the scheduled Sunday 3.       One for the season   However, Christmas and The First Sunday after Christmas are exactly the same, thus really only two!   Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist. [December  27 .] The Collect.   M ERCIFUL  Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church, that it, being illumined by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen .    The Christmas Collect is found on Page 96:   The Nativity of our Lord, or the Birthday of Christ, commonly called Christmas Day. [December 25.] The Collect.     A LMIGHTY  God, who h...