AOC Sunday Report - First Sunday after Christmas

  

Happy First Sunday after Christmas!

The AOC Sunday Report can be downloaded RIGHT HERE!

We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy, Jack and Dennis, as well as from Rev Bryan. Each one of these is quite different and very good. I'm confident you will enjoy them.  Bishop Jack brings the propers together.  His sermon can be viewed on video HERE -> https://youtu.be/b84T6HfiBCY.  Bishop Jack’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message as we look for our place in this world. At this Christmastide, we have been concentrating on the joy of the Christ’s coming to earth; rightly so!  But, in our liturgical calendar, the days go on.  At this Christmastide, it is not surprising to find “To take our nature upon him”, is a key phrase of the Collect, preceding “To be born of a pure virgin”, meaning He could not have been born from anyone else but Mary, who was at the time a pure virgin (this is before the birth of James, Jesus’ biological half-brother.  As Paul says in his letter to the Galatians, we are not to be servants or slaves of God, but His own children.  As we came upon this midnight clear, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is here for us.  Will we accept it?  Follow Him, accept His Grace and all will be good forever.

There are always a lot of people who need your prayer, today is not and never will be the exception.  Please start with Harper, Shamu, Tricia, Laurie, Ditte and Mr. Kim, work out from there.

There is an interesting week ahead, many people have a day or two a vacation, that is nice if you make use of it at least. Might I suggest if you don't see an interesting week coming up you need to refocus your life on what is important. You might think very hard about where your heart is.

I remain yours, in Christ, 

Hap Arnold
Bishop Coadjutor
Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide

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