AOC Two

  T HE   LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the  LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet .   (Nahum 1:3)               Anyone familiar with my devotions is aware of my fascination with clouds. That fascination began while I was a young child in visualizing courageous knights in armor, great sailing vessels, and even angels depicted in the puffy white mists in the sky above. Those depictions of my imagination have matured and been refined in my understanding by the numerous references to clouds in the Holy Scriptures.               It has been speculated there were no clouds in Eden –the first clouds appeared with the first rains to fall, and, later, provided the backdrop for God’s promise to Noah expressed by the Rainbow of Seven Colors...

L ET  the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.  (Colossians. 3:16)               This is a beautiful and a slightly melancholy hymn composed by the great British writer, Alfred Lord Tennyson in 1889. I first knew it as a poem which we read in the 5 th  grade of elementary school ( Crossing the Bar ), but just found its musical score as a hymn. Needless to say, this hymn is in the public domain. The tune is the work of Samuel Beazley of the same title. Tennyson is a man for whom I share a high respect with all the men and women of the English-speaking world. His writings were mostly tender, thoughtful and possessed of great beauty in verse.   Sunset and Evening Star   Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar When I p...

    Happy First Sunday in Lent! The AOC Sunday Report can be downloaded  RIGHT HERE ! We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy and Jack; as well as Rev Bryan. Each one of them is quite different and I think you will find them very interesting.   Bishop Jack brings the propers together.  His sermon can be viewed on video   HERE  ->   https://youtu.be/0YuXV3Sko4M   Bishop Jack ’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we enter into the time of Lent, which is a season of preparation  In the Collect, we ask God to help us change our natural evil tendencies so we can live life here His way and honor His wishes so we can be truly happy.  Following the thought of the Collect, Paul asks us to be worthy of the grace God has given us.  He tells the people when they needed him, He was there.   The gospe...

Bishop Jack brings the propers together.  His sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video   HERE  ->   https://youtu.be/0YuXV3Sko4M   Bishop Jack ’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we enter into the time of Lent, which is a season of preparation  In the Collect, we ask God to help us change our natural evil tendencies so we can live life here His way and honor His wishes so we can be truly happy.  Following the thought of the Collect, Paul asks us to be worthy of the grace God has given us.  He tells the people when they needed him, He was there.   The gospel, The Temptation of Christ, is really about  Want  and  Need ; two words, used interchangeably in both our speech and thought, that do not mean the same thing.  But, Jesus knew.  Action, not diction is what counts. It all com...

Bishop Ogles ’  Sermon -  Presiding Bishop Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide Before we get the sermon, from time to time, Bishop Jerry does short videos on various subjects.  If they are close to the weekend, we like to pass them along in the AOC Sunday Report.  This weekend, he did one entitled Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Price.  I am confident you will enjoy it.   https://youtu.be/CXR1m-pJF5s   We are oft fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry ’ s sermon notes.  Today is one of those Sundays.  Today ’ s sermon starts off with the collect, and like always, it will give you a lot to consider in your heart.   The First Sunday in Lent. The Collect.   O  LORD  who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glor...