Christ the King Anglican Church

Bro. Nathan Dunlap--Back to Tanzania!

2012-01-28T12:15:00.000-05:00

Christ the King's Nathan Dunlap will be heading to Tanzania for his second term of teaching with Forward in Africa. Forward in Africa is the new name for an old ministry, The Office of Foreign Missions under the direction of Fr. Francis Wardega. For more information about Forward in Africa see
Forward in Africa: From OFM to FIA -- Photos: Building on the foundation of The Office of Foreign Missions.
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Christmas is a Season!

2011-12-31T14:53:00.000-05:00

"It's the most wonderful time of the year." It is truly amazing, to watch people who are not particularly religious, embrace the holiday with abandon, with true religious zeal. Sure we have ways of disguising the religious content of the holiday. We can focus on Santa Clause, elves and reindeer, gifts and mistletoe, and "naughty and nice" lists. Sadly, I some times hear Christians bemoaning the materialism, and commercialization of the holiday, and trumpeting, "Jesus is the reason for the season." OK, point granted. But it is my opinion that such pontificating does not speak half as loudly as actions. The fact is, that Jesus started it all, himself being the most extravagant gift ever given, The eternal Word, made flesh. "God of God, light of light, very God of very God," embraced humanity in such lavish love as to take humanity into himself. You see, He set the precedent of extravagant generosity. He demonstrated through this act, and his ministry on earth, that the visible, material, tangible world really does matter, and that physical persons, and things can be vehicles of spiritual grace. So when I see people in the lines at department stores, racking up bills on their credit cards, spending beyond their means, part of me has to cheer. Jesus Won! He has so impacted the world with his grace, that one time of year, even those who have little or no faith in him at all, are compelled to look beyond themselves, to show their love through giving. It is grace indeed, that allows the world in all of its brokenness and blindness, one season each year, to experience first hand Christian love.

If you happen to be one of the "bemoan-ers," please lighten up. Don't let all that is wrong in the world blind you to the really good things all around you. Go ahead and celebrate the greatest gift the world has even known.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas day, their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how as the day had come, the belfries of all Christendom
had roll'd along th'unbroken song of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bow'd my head. "There is no peace on earth," I said,
"Foe hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead nor doth he sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth good will to men."

Till ringing, singing, on its way, the world revolv'd from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, of peace on earth good will to men!

---Henry W. Longfellow

ADVENT!

2011-11-19T12:35:00.001-05:00

It's hard to believe, but we have come to the close of another year. Next Sunday, November 27, 2011 is the first Sunday of Advent, the season of preparation for celebrating both the Incarnation of Christ, and His long awaited return. While our society pushes ahead to Christmas (Feast of the Incarnation) the Church holds us back, reminding us that we wait. Such is the motif of our lives in Christ. While we enjoy the celebrations of God's promises fulfilled, we wait for THE coming, the promise of promises to be fulfilled. In truth, the four weeks of Advent correspond in micro, to the whole of History in macro. Waiting means preparing. The four weeks of Advent give us opportunity to prepare, to pause, reflect, and with penitent hearts, to clear out the clutter that crowds out our devotion. Thus Advent prepares us to welcome our Savior with joy and exultation, not fear or sorrow. So also, Advent forces us to face the reality that we have a definite end coming- whether the Return of Christ or our own departure from this life. From the day of our birth we have been on this journey like it or not. It is the one "given," that is universally agreed upon. But there is another "given." It is the assurance that, through Christ, His coming, or our going, need not to be a fearful prospect. It can inspire us with hope, and Joy. I know that one day I will meet my Maker, and as I have welcomed him in this present life, so He will welcome me. This is the promise of God in Christ Jesus. Won't you make room for Jesus? What are you waiting for?

Missionaries of St. John General Synod

2011-08-17T11:11:00.000-04:00

Christ the King parish was well represented at the recent MSJ general synod. Attending along with Fr. Bob, were our delegates Ruth Betts, Mary Lemmon, together with six of the Lemmon children, and Nathan Dunlap, representing Forward in Africa. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and enrichment, as brothers and sisters from Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Texas came together at St. John the Apostle Anglican Church in Clinton Township, Michigan. A special word of thanks is given to Canon Jack Lumanog, for his presentations on church planting and growth.

Easter at Christ the King

2011-04-29T08:17:00.002-04:00

Holy Week at Christ the King

2011-04-16T16:12:00.002-04:00

You are invited!
Palm Sunday, April 17, @ 10:30 AM

Maundy Thursday, April 21, @ 7:00 PM

Good Friday, April 22, @ 12:15 PM

The Great Vigil, Sat. April 23, @ 8:00 PM

Easter Sunday, April 24, @ 10:30 AM

Come be a part of the greatest celebration of the Christian Year!

Parish Life

2011-04-11T17:38:00.000-04:00

It's not just about going to church. For many people parish life means going to church on Sunday, and maybe attending special services. Certainly worship attendance is an important part, but parish life is much bigger than just "churchy" events. Christ the King is not just a place to worship, it is a community of people who share a common faith in Christ Jesus, who worship, work, and play together. We share in each others, joys and sorrows, successes and failures, triumphs and tragedies.

It's a scary thought to some people. In the modern world we have become accustomed to our privacy. We don't need some "busy-body" poking around in our lives. We want to maintain our ambiguity, controlling what other people know about us. We certainly don't want just anybody to know that our lives are anything less than perfect. However, this warm blanket of anonymity has a cost. It leaves us alone, in a seclusion and a silence that even Facebook cannot alleviate.

The beautiful thing about parish life is that you are only as alone as you want to be. Nothing is forced. Its not a support group where everybody has to "share," or where you have to participate in everything or else people think something is wrong with you. Its a community where you can belong without having to be anyone other than yourself. Everyone already knows that you are not perfect. Nobody is. We have found in Christ Jesus, real life, and peace. He welcomes us just as we are. We are learning to walk with Him, and He is teaching us to love again. You really don't have to figure it all out on your own. You can walk with us if you want to. Come on, give it a try. It'll be great.

Dispatch 2

2011-02-12T10:48:00.004-05:00

Bishop Kwangu and his wife Mary took Fr Francis and Brother Nathan southwest across the bay and through the valleys for around 100 kilometers to the town of Geita, where Fr. Francis was to teach for two weeks at Christ the King Anglican Church in the center of the town. It has been decided that Geita will become a separate diocese in the future and the teaching fosters that goal.

Geita has many churches and few clergy. Most of the churches are led by evangelists, commissioned to lead the churches and the Sunday services. They do much more than just preach the Word; they lead the congregations; they are the pastors. Most are not formally trained but do the best they can. In the past, OFM teaching has been highly successful in such areas.

Bishop Kwangu and his wife and Brother Nathan returned to Mwanza to carry on the teaching of the evangelists back there, leaving Fr Francis in Geita.

The schedules are full, the students though not well educated are earnest and attentive. Watch for the full dispatch at A Maiden's collection

As I read through this dispatch, I was reminded of how much we take for granted-not just the "things" we have, but the opportunities available to us here in the United states, for education and training. Would that every follower of Jesus, were as thirsty for knowledge and understanding of Him and his kingdom.

Mission in Tanzania

2011-02-04T16:47:00.002-05:00

Our very own Nathan Dunlap, arrived safely in Mwanza, Tanzania, after roughly 9,000 miles of travel. This is Br. Nathan's first trip, and Fr. Francis Wardega's last trip for the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM). The OFM is a ministry of teaching, equipping ministers both ordered and lay, for ministry in the Anglican tradition. Nathan and Fr. Francis have met with diocesan bishop, Rt. Rev. Boniface Kwangu. The Bishop's plan is for Nathan to teach in Mwanza, new students at Nyakato Bible School, teaching lesson plans starting with Course 101. Fr Francis will travel to Geita, several hours away, and teach former students, advanced lesson plans. To read the full dispatch, follow the link to the Missionaries of St. John blog site.

Missions is at the heart of what we do at Christ the King. Nathan's trip to Tanzania is an example. However, let us not forget that our very own neighborhood is our mission field. Everyone may not be able to travel 9000 miles, but thankfully most will not have to. It is our mission to share the message of God's grace in Jesus Christ, with our neighbors, friends, relatives, and new acquaintances.

If you are interested in finding out more about our great parish, or the Anglican way, I welcome your inquiry(frlemmon@gmail.com), or come and see for yourself Sunday morning at 10:30 AM. You will be glad you did.

Congratulations Dr. Streeter!

2010-11-13T11:44:00.005-05:00

Recently, one of our parishoners, Anne Streeter successfully defended her dissertation and was awarded her Ph.D. in Health Communication from the University of Kentucky. Congratulations Dr. Anne! Thanks for letting your light shine. Christ did not come to make us small and insignificant. He came to help us reach our fullest God given potential in Him. Dr. Anne sets for us an example, to never stop aspiring to greater good with the gifts and abilities that God has given us. It's not just about the degree. Rather, it's about the many people who may receive better health care as a result of her hard work and research toward improving efficiency and accuracy in the exchange of information between health care professionals.

Missionaries of St. John Come to Christ the King

2010-11-05T17:13:00.003-04:00

For the first time in our history, the Missionaries of St. John came to Christ the King for our annual Clericus, October 28-30. It was a great time of worship, teaching, and fellowship, of which I hope will linger long in the memory of all who participated. We count it a privilege to have been able to host this gathering.

Pews Create a New Look and Feel

2010-09-14T19:31:00.006-04:00

Christ the King has the blessing of becoming the next home for pews that have a long history in Christ's service. Not only do the increase our seating, but increase the sense of the Sacred in worship. Praise God for this generous gift to Christ the King parish.

The Covenant is Signed!

2010-06-22T07:12:00.002-04:00

On June 17, 2010, The Missionary Society of St. John, entered into covenant with the Missionary Diocese of All Saints, ACNA. Bishop Frederick Fick, Father General of the MSJ, comments:
"Our Catholic faith compels us and our desire for common mission draws us to the Missionary Diocese of All Saints. Bishop William Ilgenfritz, Bishop Ordinary of the MDAS, has been extraordinarily hospitable and helpful in assisting us in this process. We look forward to continuing our missionary work as part the Diocese. As evangelical Anglican Catholics, our convictions do not permit us to live and work independently."

"We are a religious order, or more accurately, a missionary society with a particular Rule of Life that commits us to daily prayer, sacrificial living and giving, as the Holy Spirit grants us the grace to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. Forward in Faith established the Missionary Diocese as a home, a place to live out our faith witness. How could we not share in what we see as the Lord's calling?"

The MSJ did not travel to the place alone. We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the bishops of the REC, Ray Sutton and Roy Grote for their guidance and wisdom. We are also grateful for the love and friendship of the APA, particularly bishops Larry Shaver and Walter Grundorf, Forward In Faith bishops Jack Iker and Keith Ackerman for meeting often with us and for their wise guidance, encouragement and direction. Finally, we extend our warmest appreciation to Bishop Richard Boyce of the REC, our episcopal visitor, protector and fellow MSJ forever.

To see more concerning this historic event in the life of Christ the King Anglican Church, go to the MSJ Blog.

Our 10 Year Anniversary

2010-04-26T10:10:00.005-04:00

It's hard to believe but this May marks our 10th year as a community of faith. We will be have a celebration to commemorate the the founding of Christ Community Church, now known as Christ the King on Saturday May 22, 2010, beginning around 3:00 PM. There will be a potluck dinner, games and activities for all ages, and a slide presentation. Put it on your calender and plan to attend. If you are not familiar with Christ the King Anglican Church, what better time to meet the families who attend, and learn the history of this great parish.

Easter Celebration

2010-04-16T18:53:00.002-04:00

Holy Week At Christ The King

2010-03-27T06:49:00.003-04:00

Christ the King invites you to join in our Holy Week celebrations and observances.

Palm Sunday, March 28, at 10:30 AM
Maundy Thursday, April 1, at 7:15 PM
Good Friday, April 2, Stations of the Cross 12:00 Noon
The Great Easter Vigil, and Baptism of Ezra J. Lemmon,
Saturday April 3, at 8:00 PM

Feast of the Resurrection Sunday April, 4 at 10:30 AM

Lent and Springtime

2010-03-05T06:11:00.002-05:00

It has been a long winter, and most people you talk to around here will agree. This picture from a prior spring, reminds me that spring is coming. It is appropriate that the season of Lent coincides. Often when we talk about Lent our conversations revolve around things that we are giving up. "What have you given up for Lent?" We focus our attention on the things we know are wrong in our lives, the areas we want to improve, the habits we want to kick, or the virtues we want to attain. We sometimes come into Lent with a detailed agenda, or "to do" list. However this widely misses the point of Lent, a season for penitence, and reflection.

The purpose, of Lent is that of preparation, whether we think of it in terms of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, or the early practice of preparation for baptism. Jesus was taken into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, as preparation for his public ministry. In the early church, it was the forty day fasting and prayer for the new convert, to get him or her ready for new birth, life in the Church. Lent is preparation. Every Lent is potentially a new spring time. It is a time, when God can prepare us for the next big step in our lives. This could be the year that God completely changes the game for you. But when we come to it with our list of things we want to accomplish, sometimes it is hard for God to get a word in edge-wise. We do all the talking, all the working all the sacrificing and likely will miss what God really wants to do in our lives.

Instead of thinking of it as giving up, (a sacrifice on your part) think of it as an offering to God. Your fast, your contrition is a gift to God that he will not despise. It is not just about self discipline, it is about a new spring time--in our lives. It's about honestly and openly offering our lives to God and letting Him decide what He needs to fix in us, to fit us for our next task, the next stage of our journey. Are you ready for springtime in your life? This Lenten season offer to him your heart, your contrition. Let your fasting be a gift to Him, as a measure of your sincere desire to be a good disciple, and to allow Him to do His work in your life. Burn that agenda. Quit telling Him, and let Him tell you. Stop, and listen--Spring is coming!

What's in a Name?

2010-01-23T14:18:00.002-05:00

As children of modernity, we often treat names very casually. Names for children are chosen for many different, and sometimes inconsequential reasons. However, in the Scriptures names are more significant; chosen to reflect the character of the person, or changed for the same reason. Jacob, the "grasper" or supplanter, was thus named, because as he was born he was grasping the heel of his older brother Esau. Later, after wrestling with God, God changed his name to Israel. He was no longer a supplanter. Jesus gave Simon, the Apostle, the name Peter, (rock) and announced that upon this "rock," he would build his Church. To this day it is not uncommon for men to change their names upon their ordination to the priesthood, or episcopacy. Names are important. They are more than just handles used to get ones attention. They identify and communicate something about a person.

The same could be said of churches. When we founded Christ Community Church, we chose that name because it communicated who we were as an independent autonomous community of faith, and our vision to be a church for our community. However in our journey toward Christ's one holy catholic and apostolic church, we are still a church for our community, but we have given up our independence. We have submitted ourselves to Apostolic authority, through our Bishop, We have conformed our doctrine and practice to the Tradition of the Church. For many years now, Christ Community Church has been an inaccurate and ambiguous description of who we are. Sunday, January 17,2010, in our annual Parish meeting, we decided to change that. We adopted the name Christ the King Anglican Church. Our loyalty to Christ is unchanged. Our government is no longer pure democracy, (community governed) but that of Christ our King, and his established authority, through the Apostles to the Bishops of his Church. "Anglican" expresses our adherence to the tradition of English Catholicism, as expressed in the 1549 Book of Common prayer, and the unity we seek in Christ's one Church. We recognize that this journey toward unity will not be complete until Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and faithful Anglicans share full communion with one another. Never the less, as a parish, we are much closer to that unity, than when we first began. Thanks be to God.

If you are in the area, please come and worship God in the ancient tradition that speaks the truth in every generation.

...And Behold, It was Good

2009-11-16T11:13:00.005-05:00

November 15, 2009 will be a day etched in our history-the opening of the nave addition. It was a lot of work, getting our new structure dried so we could insulate and open up the last section of the Nave. It all came together in God's time, and in God's way: A great crowd, our beloved Bishop, present to proclaim the word and celebrate the Mass, and the Spirit of God present in a powerful way through the service, potluck dinner and a volleyball game in the sunny mid 70 degree weather. It simply could not have been a more perfect day.

"See that? Yeah, we helped build it."

2009-11-09T09:03:00.005-05:00

It was a beautiful November day for fishing, hunting, playing ball, maybe even a picnic, and of course building. The Langes, Ethan Dunlap, and the Lemmon boys put in a good day, finishing some framing and putting on sheeting on the church building. Of course teenage boys love to do the fun stuff, but give them a "man's" job and watch them shine.
In years to come, they will look at this building, stand a little taller and be able to say, "We helped build this..."

Construction Day...

2009-10-30T06:14:00.003-04:00

It did not happen day three as we had hoped, but we were close. The work team stayed until it was just too dark to work on Wednesday and had to leave on Thursday. We are thrilled with all that they accomplished. Wednesday evening, 10/21/09, they had the third level deck, knee and end walls up. Saturday, the 24th, we mustered a crew of our own, and set the rafters, and the first few sheets of metal on the roof as you see here. As of this date, 10/30/09, the roof is nearly complete, and in the coming days we will continue to work at sheeting the walls, and getting it all buttoned up for winter. We give God praise for what he has accomplished through the generosity and service of others. May He grant us the wisdom and will to be worthy stewards of all he has given.

Construction Day 2

2009-10-20T18:27:00.002-04:00

Another successful day. Once again you can see that a lot was accomplished. The second floor deck is in place, and sheeting is going on. The massive wall truss is fully in place with just a few finishing touches. The first floor opening you see will be double doors separating the narthex and the nave. Tomorrow, the upper floor (attic area) rafters and roof. It seems like a lot of work to be done in a single day but with a good number of youth, and plenty of adult oversight, it can be done. We will see what tomorrow holds. Glory to God in all things.

Construction Day 1

2009-10-19T20:14:00.002-04:00

It was an absolutely gorgeous day to begin the work. Temperature was in the 60-70 degree range, and nothing but blue skies. At the end of the day we have about half of the joists set, and two of the three walls framed. The team is doing a great job. The weather is supposed to be great for the next several days so we are well on our way to meeting our goal of being framed and dry, w/ everything buttoned up by Sunday.

Making Room for You

2009-10-16T06:30:00.003-04:00

Not a very good picture, but it is hard to get a good one facing into the sun. What you see is a massive engineered wall truss that spans what will be the nave and supports the upper floor. We had thought we would just put in a couple columns for support, but the architect's appreciation for church aesthetics said otherwise.

This coming week, will see the rest of this section framed and dry. Check back next week for updated pictures and a progress report. Although it is an exciting time for Christ Community, it's not just about the building. Buildings are resources. They are tools for serving others. The church is the people. We are excited about the potential this building holds for serving the people of Casey county, Kentucky. "Come to Him, that living stone, rejected by men but in God's sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5 RSV) If you are in the area, come and be part what God is building.
Once we were no people, now we are God's people; once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy. His mercy and grace is available to you.

In God's Time

2009-10-07T20:55:00.004-04:00

October promises to be an exciting month of building. We have several volunteer work teams coming in through this month to help with the framing of the next section of our building. The picture to the right shows the section that we will be adding this month.

In preparation for the team scheduled for this coming weekend (October 10) we needed to get our blocks filled and anchor bolts set. My boys and I were going to work on this task, mixing concrete by hand to fill the necessary sections of the block. We weren't planning on meeting anyone, we were just going to do it ourselves. As we came over the hill toward the Church's drive way, a cement truck was pulling in ahead of us.

We followed the truck down the driveway, wondering what might be the meaning of this strange event, since we had not ordered any concrete, we were going to mix it by hand. When we got back to the church building, Jerome, and a couple other boys were there getting ready to fill the block. Timing could not have been better. In fact, it was perfect. It was a "God thing" from the beginning.

It seems that a neighbor was pouring concrete that morning. When he found out that we were planning on filling the blocks, he offered us what ever was left in the truck. The driver was kind enough to drive over to the church yard, and empty his rig there, so that we could use the ready mix. Our family just happened to arrive at precisely the right time. Praise the Lord! Blocks filled, anchor bolts set, in about 3 hours. It was an unbelievable morning.

Making Music

2009-09-24T07:59:00.002-04:00

FUNDRAISING CONCERT

For the Building Fund Of Christ Community Church
on
OCTOBER 3rd, 2009
7 PM

Featuring the Musical Stylings of

~ Rick and Chris Saenz
~ Art Mize
~ Christy Hudson
~ Jerome Lange
~ Anna Dunlap
~ Elizabeth Lemmon

At the Galilean Children’s Home Chapel

Donations will be accepted for the church building project. There is no admission charge.

It Makes a Difference What You Believe

2009-08-05T15:24:00.004-04:00

Francis Bacon, Charles Babbage, George Washington, John Locke, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, C.S. Lewis, T. S. Eliot, George H. W. Bush, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Robert Boyle, Edward Jenner, William Thomson (Lord Kelvin), John Wesley, George Whitfield, and William Butler Yeats. Do you recognize these names? These individuals famous for contributions to science, literature, leadership and spirituality, together with a host of others, including a total of 11 or 12 US Presidents, 31 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 37 elected members of the first US congress, numerous governors, senators, representatives, scientists, musicians, artists and actors have this in common: they were Anglican Christians. Now granted, they were not all necessarily “good” Anglicans, any more than former president Bill Clinton would be considered a "good" Southern Baptist. My point is simply that these contributors to history, science and culture, most of whom, you will learn about at some point, were Anglican Christians.

Christians of all stripes, enjoy reading C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, singing hymns written by John and Charles Wesley, and believe and defend the Faith of George Washington. Students of literature read and study the poetry of Tennyson, Yeats, and T.S. Eliot. Scientists utilize theories of Robert Boyle, the “father” of modern chemistry, or Lord Kelvin's studies in thermodynamics. (The list could go on) So, why don't we not know about their Faith?

Modern culture has sought to divorce a persons religion from his or her practical life. It is one of the great fallacies of this age that suggests that a persons faith, or lack thereof, does not effect their lives in every respect. Most people do not know that these historic figures were Anglicans because they were never taught. They were never taught because the children of modernity no longer understand connection between faith and life. Religion is a considered personal matter of little consequence. Yet it is ones faith that shapes a persons world view. A person's worldview is the matrix through which they understand and interact with the world around them. What you really believe is always reflected in how you live your life, the choices you make and the actions you take.

Regardless of your opinion of the Christian faith, history proclaims with a loud voice, the positive contributions that Christian faith has made, from hospitals to universities. Likewise, Anglican spirituality formed the context out of which each of these men and women lived, worked and made such valuable contributions to society and culture. The Anglican tradition forms in us a world view that embraces the Kingdom of God, without abandoning this present world to the powers of the darkness. It inspires us with divine optimism regarding the salvation our fellow human beings. The people of this world, the lost souls in your neighborhood and mine, are worth dying for. God take's no pleasure in the death of the wicked but wants all to come to repentance. The gifts and talents He has given to each of us, are to be used for His honor and glory, not only in eternity, but in this present dark world. The person apprehended by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, becomes a light shining in a dark place. Even a solitary candle in a dark room, makes a tremendous difference.

I want to encourage you to visit an Anglican church. Experience for yourself the faith that is part of your American heritage, the faith that has born witness to the life changing power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for 1800 years. What you believe really does make a difference.

2009-06-24T20:43:00.002-04:00

Orthodox Church Leader Rekindles Relationship with Anglicans

The leader of the Orthodox Church in North America has re-kindled the oldest ecumenical relationship in Christian history. Addressing delegates and attendees of the inaugural assembly of the Anglican Church in North America, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, said, “I am seeking an ecumenical restoration by being here today. This is God’s call to us.” This significant gesture represents the possibility of full communion being exchanged between the churches.

Metropolitan Jonah represents the North American branch of the Orthodox Church, a Christian denomination that has a long history of strong relationships with the Anglican Church. “We have to actualize that radical experience of union in Christ with one another,” Jonah said. Speaking for 45 minutes, the Metropolitan addressed the importance of looking past our differences in order to work together for mission. “Our unity transcends our particularity,” he said.

His Beatitude’s message was focused on unity but did not fail to address areas of contrasting beliefs between the two churches. Though united in upholding the authority of the Bible and uniqueness of Jesus Christ, the Orthodox Church and Anglican Church in North America have differing opinions on matters such as the ordination of women and other doctrinal issues. Despite this, the Metropolitan told the audience that “our arms are open wide.”

Following the speech, a representative of an Orthodox seminary, St. Vladimir’s, announced a cooperative effort with Nashotah House, an orthodox Anglican seminary, that would help further these ecumenical relationships and what Jonah described as a “new dialogue between the Orthodox Church in North America and the new Anglican province in North America.

See video

Nine Years Old, and Growing Stronger

2009-04-29T20:55:00.004-04:00

The first Sunday of May marks our ninth anniversary as a congregation. When we began, based on our knowledge of the community, the number of Christian families whom we knew did not have a church home, and the number of un-churched people in the area, we thought within two or three years we would have grown to a substantial congregation. But we were wrong. We are still fairly small, although we are growing. The families who have become part of Christ Community bear fruit in vibrant Christian faith. We are far from dead, or "in-grown." " What went wrong?" you might ask. The enigmatic answer is, "The same thing that went right."

Our founding vision, was from the beginning multi generational. That is to say, our aim we to build a community of faith that would be rock solid doctrinally, stable and enduring, producing mature Christians and building strong families. That these households of faith would be built into the household of faith, and the future would see children, with their parents, as well as grand parents worshiping together on Sunday morning. It would be a church that would serve our community, our county long after we were dead and gone. There are serious needs in rural Appalachia. We believed then as we continue to believe now, that we need to be committed to this mission for the long haul. Our goal is healing, not band aids, or Novocaine.
How were we to accomplish this? After much prayer, we determined that our worship should be shaped by the historic liturgy of the Church. We would stick to the center ground, and stay away from peripheral issues that divide the church. It was our best attempt to hold fast to what "all Christians everywhere have believed for all time." We knew that this meant that we could not remain independent, but we had to be connected to the larger body of Christ. We had no idea just how counter cultural, our trajectory was, nor how big of an obstacle this would be to many. Just imagine: an evangelical, independent autonomous congregation, seeking to give up its autonomy, its distinctiveness and above all its "freedom" to become traditional.
More than a few individuals, have visited once, and not returned. Others have come and stayed for a period of time, but determined it just wasn't their style. In honesty there were times that I had my doubts; donning vestments, written prayers, the lectionary, the black shirt and collar, submission to very human Bishops, was all very foreign to my background. However looking back I am more convinced than ever before, that it was the Holy Spirit's leading, and what ever doubts or anxieties I may have had in those early days, have completely vanished.

The bottom line is that this counter cultural direction, while perhaps being the wrong direction if we were trying to quickly attract a crowd, was and is precisely the right direction if we wanted to grow mature steadfast Christians and lay a foundation that would not crumble with the passing of personalities, or religious fads. In the past nine years, we have witnessed around us, multiple church splits, new congregations spring up, and dissolve almost as quickly. We have seen Christians move from church to church in search of one that fits, and we have had our share of losses as well. But we have remained faithful to the vision that God has given us. The liturgy, the sacraments, the episcopacy, and our connection to confessing Anglicans worldwide, have provided for us strength, stability, and a firm foundation on which to build in the years to come.

Christ Community is a church where you can live and grow in Christ, and where your children can become established in the Christian faith, and become fruitful disciples of Jesus. It's a place where new winds of doctrine, will not blow, and the Bible is the very Word of God. It's a place where we stand against the cultural tide of individualism and autonomy by submitting ourselves voluntarily to the authority of Christ Jesus and his Church. It's a church that will welcome you home.

The Great Vigil of Easter: The Light of Christ!

2009-04-12T07:52:00.009-04:00

New Fire is kindled

The Paschal Candle is lighted from the new Fire and placed in its stand in the Sanctuary.
The night has come, wherein the bonds of death are loosed, and Christ harrowing hell rose again in triumph!
From the Paschal Candle, the altar lights are lighted.
ALLELUIA! Christ is Risen!
The True light that enlightens every man has come into the
world. The darkness cannot quench it. From His fullness have we all received grace upon grace!

Holy Week At Christ Community

2009-04-06T12:57:00.004-04:00

It was a beautiful beginning to Holy Week. The weather was fabulous for the day's activities, from the processional, to the ball game following our potluck dinner.
Some even thought it was warm enough for a little dip in the creek.

Take time this week to remember the mighty work that God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ. Scheduled services at Christ Community will be:
Maundy Thursday at 7:00 PM
Good Friday at 12:00 noon.
We will Celebrate the Great Easter Vigil, Saturday evening beginning at 7:30, with the lighting of the Paschal candle, and conclude with a bonfire to celebrate the light of Christ, which the darkness will never overcome. All services will be held at Christ Community Church on Halon Young Rd. For directions call Fr. Bob Lemmon at (606) 787- 6319.

You're Invited

2009-02-21T20:21:00.004-05:00

If you live in Casey or one of the surrounding counties, you are invited to attend. Sunday Morning worship begins at 10:30 AM. Through the season of Lent, we will be remembering the Stations of The Cross on Thursday evenings. The service will begin at 7:00 PM. For directions please call Fr. Bob at (606) 787-6319

Ash Wednesday in our New Home

2009-02-09T21:56:00.003-05:00

You can see from the photo that progress is taking place. We now have a door, temporary lighting, and will have insulation in probably this week. We will have creek rock brought in for our parking area in the coming week as well. The light colored panels you see, are translucent sky light panels over our windows.

We will bid fare well to our old location on Sunday, February 22. Our first official gathering will be for our pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday, and our first Eucharist will be Ash Wednesday at 7:00 PM. You are invited to come and be a part of the new day that is dawning for Christ Community Church, the ancient faith, for this generation. For more information and directions to Christ Community's new location please call Fr. Bob Lemmon at (606) 787-6319

For an excellent collection of photos of our building at different stages in progress, check out Sveta's page

Ready or Not Here We Come!

2009-01-27T16:53:00.002-05:00

As of March 1, 2009 this will be our home. There will be a few additions, we will button it up a bit more, put some insulation up and move in our wood stove, chairs and furniture. Yes it does look like we will be "roughing it" for a bit, but there is nothing like home. For many in this congregation, this will not be the first time we have met in an unfinished building. I remember almost 9 years ago, when Christ Community began, we met in the Dunlaps living room for several months. Then we moved to Nathan's shop building, which also was unfinished, not much different than this. We put a lot of work into that building, beautifying it as much as we could, but bearing in mind it wasn't ours and that we would one day move out of it. It has taken longer than I had hoped, but very soon that hope will become a reality. Right now its not much, but the stewardship is entirely ours, the parish family of Christ Community Church. A new chapter in our story is about to begin, a new day is dawning.

Can You See It Yet?

2008-12-15T20:49:00.003-05:00

It has a floor, walls and a roof now, but we are along way from the finish line. With just a little imagination though you can see the first half completed. We are grateful to God, and all the volunteers who helped in this endeavor. It is incredible that we were able to get this much done before the rains began. For now, we continue to do the work that He has given us to do, and believe that He who began this good work will bring it to completion.

Raising the Roof

2008-10-22T20:34:00.003-04:00

Building Progress

2008-10-19T22:09:00.006-04:00

This is the footing of what will be our Church building. It measures 36 by 72 ft. And yes we dug most of this footer by hand. Here you see part of our crew, Jerome Lange, Fr. Bob, some of the teenage boys hard at this laborious task. Emily Lemmon (in red ) is checking our progress, and keeping us at it.
Things are moving along well. As of today, our footer is poured and the foundation blocks are laid. We will be pouring our slab this week and if all goes as planned have half of this building under roof by next week.

These picture are more than just a testimony to progress made. They are a window, an icon if you will, into our philosophy of life and ministry. Working together, making use of the resources we have at hand, rather than just paying someone else to do it. Its about building relationships with people while working together for a common cause. There are few better ways to build relationships. It is the price we pay gladly, cheerfully. It's the offering we make of ourselves for the sake of the Gospel. No it is not the most efficient way to dig a footer, but it is the most efficient way of using the resources that we have. The money we saved by doing it our selves, will be used to purchase other materials necessary to build. Even doing much work ourselves, we will still run short of finances before our energy runs out.

Holy Baptism

2008-08-02T09:28:00.002-04:00

On July 27, Christ Community welcomed three young ladies into the body of Christ.It was an exciting day for everyone. To many in our neighborhood the baptism of such young girls doesn't make any sense. The reason for this misunderstanding is complex, involving many different issues. Perhaps the most significant is the misunderstanding of the rite of baptism itself. To many people today, baptism is viewed as a testimony of ones faith. It is this testimony that provides the basis for entrance into the Church. However such a conception of Baptism is no where found in Scripture. It is a false conclusion drawn by inference from the fact that in the Acts of the Apostles, many believed and then were baptized. Scripture and Tradition agree that Baptism is into the body of Christ. Even the Anabaptist will agree on this point, but they assert that a persons belief must precede baptism, making it primarily a human work, a testimony. This infants and young children are ineligible for entry into the body of Christ. In fact, excluded also are mentally handicapped, as well as the physically handicapped if they cannot communicate their testimony of faith.

In Matthew 28, Jesus' commissions his Apostles, to go, make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that He commanded. In the original Greek, the operative verb is "make disciples." Going, baptizing, and teaching are verbal clauses that modify the main verb, that is, stating the way or manner in which disciples are to be made- going, baptizing and teaching. Regardless of word order, everyone must understand that baptism is essential to disciple making. Therefore to deny baptism to infants or young children of Christian parents, means that children cannot really be disciples until they are adults. Such a thought is antithetical to much that Jesus did and taught. He bid the disciples to let the little children come to him. He said that unless we become like children ourselves we cannot be his disciples. Which leads us to the fundamental difference between the vast majority of Christians, through out the past centuries, and the modern practice of "believers baptism" only.

Scripture and Tradition hold that God works through material things. The apostles, anointed people with oil for healing, they prayed over handkerchiefs and sent them out, and they baptized entire house holds into the household of God. Baptism is not a human testimony, but God's testimony. It is His welcome of a person into his family. It is the administration of His grace, for salvation. As parents, given the responsibility of raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, we have to recognize that we are the ones charged with making disciples of our children while they are in our care. We will be remiss if we do not make available to them every grace toward this end. Let the little children come. Forbid them not.

Family Fun Day

2008-05-10T11:24:00.006-04:00

Part of our mission at Christ Community is strengthening and building families, into the Body of Christ. One way that we do this is through our Family Fun Days. Once a month we gather on a Saturday for a time of fun and fellowship. This is not your ordinary church fellowship though. Too often when church people get together, the men gather in one corner, the women go to another, and the children run off and play. That is not what the family fun day is for. Instead, we plan activities that involve everyone together. We do this for a couple reasons. First is that our goal is to strengthen family relationships. Informal activities involving both parents and children provides a good avenue for this. Children need to have fun with their parents. Secondly, parents need to have fun with their children. Today, parents carry enormous burdens, providing and caring for their children, pressures at work, and stressful relationships. Playing and laughing is a great way to relieve stress and regain ones strength. It is truly re-creative.
If you live in Casey County or a neighboring community, you are welcome at our next Family Fun Day. Just email frlemmon@gmail.com for then next date. Or better than that, visit Christ Community Church this Sunday. You will be glad you did, and so will your children.

Confirmations

2008-05-10T10:28:00.003-04:00

Last Sunday, May 4Th, we enjoyed the privilege of having the Rt. Rev. Frederick Fick, our bishop with us. It was a rich day in the Lord, as he opened his heart and God's word to us, and confirmed four of our young people, Ethan and Sveta Dunlap, Jessica Martin, and Joel Lemmon. He is very pleased with the progress that we have made over the years, and charged us to move forward with construction on our property.
We count it a blessing to to serve Christ under Bishop Fick's oversight.

Holding on to the Good

2008-02-29T16:30:00.003-05:00

So, Christ Community is a traditional Anglican church. What does that mean? If you are asking for a definition of Anglicanism, there are numerous good sources. We recommend our Missionary Society web site at msjanglican.org . However, when we say that we are "traditional" we mean something quite different than "Traditional Anglican," which typically refers to a continuing Anglican jurisdiction. Okay, You're right. It is hair splitting. For all practical purposes we fall in line with Continuing Anglican jurisdictions if that helps you. The difference is that the continuing Anglicans were nearly all formerly Episcopalians. This is not the case with Christ Community. Christ Community Church has never been part of the Episcopal Church in the US. In fact, the Missionary Society of St. John did not separate from the Episcopal Church. Our history lies elsewhere. Where, you might ask? You name it. Lutheran, Methodist, Nazarene, Roman Catholic, and maybe even some Episcopalians. In the same respect, Christ Community Church is composed of people from many different traditions, most of them not Episcopalian. So it is really a misnomer to say that we are continuing Anglicans, but it provides us a great place to begin a more significant conversation, namely to answer the question, "Then why are you Anglican?"

This is where I get excited, because we have found in the Anglican tradition, a solid spiritual foundation for growth and discipleship in the Christian faith. Allow me to speak biographically. My journey with the Lord Jesus, began in conservative evangelicalism. I found Jesus there. I learned reverence for God's word, and zeal for evangelism. Later in life I was introduced to the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in a Charismatic church. This presented a dramatic shift in my life, as my relationship with the Lord became much more intimate, and my confidence and expectation of His power at work today, increased dramatically. It was in the liturgical/sacramental tradition that I learned of the availability and efficacy of God's grace through the sacraments, and the stability and growth that is enhanced through the use of the historic liturgy and episcopal oversight. Liturgical worship has been around since the church's foundation in Acts chapter 2 and has faithfully, preserved the faith of Jesus' Apostles for nearly 2000 years. Here is the beautiful part of this story. In coming to the Anglican tradition, I didn't have to give up any of these treasures that I gained in my previous experiences. The Anglican tradition provides for me, and many others an historic, liturgical and sacramental foundation, for evangelical and charismatic belief. I have kept all the good, all the significant parts of my prior Christian experiences.

The seeds that God has sown in our lives can be nurtured and come to full blossom in the soil of Anglicanism. And as an added bonus, we find ourselves one step closer to the unity of Christ's church envisioned by Jesus in John 17. Come, see for yourself what God is doing in Anglican Churches across America. If you live in Casey or any of the surrounding counties, come worship at Christ Community Church this Sunday.

The Call of Fishermen

2008-02-01T13:52:00.001-05:00

February is upon us, and believe it or not, the minds of many have already turned to the lakes. I remember as a young boy braving blustering cold in an attempt to catch the first crappies as they begin to feed. Now much older, I generally try to hold off until the water temperature gets into fifties. But as that mercury inches its way up the anticipation builds. It's still going to mean braving some chilly weather. The determination of Kentucky crappie fishermen is second of course to the heroic ice fishermen of the northern country. Its not for the faint hearted. Some might ask, "Why would you spend hours sitting in a boat in bone chilling cold?" While motives differ widely among fishers, for me it is the thrill of fishing, combined with the anticipation of the freshly cooked crappie fillet on my plate. No, I wouldn't die for it, but I'm willing to brave the elements. The strength of the motive, determines how much we are willing to sacrifice.

One time, Jesus was walking along the lake (Galilee) and he saw some fishermen, James, and John the sons of Zebedee, and Andrew and Simon (Peter). He said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." The amazing thing is that all four of them dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus. What we see in their example is of course their courage and obedience, but at the deeper level we see a measure of motivation. What they were willing walk away from, signifies the greatness of what they were walking into. What we are willing to sacrifice, demonstrates the significance of what motivates us.

Jesus came to us bringing light to our darkness, the good news of the kingdom. For those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death new light has dawned. What Jesus brought to us, perhaps more important than the miracles, healing, or fixing our problems, is motivation, a purpose for living. A purpose so great that Christians through out the centuries have been willing to suffer abuse, persecution, abandonment, even death to pursue. The purpose and meaning that Jesus brings to our lives, affords us joy in the midst of pain and suffering, and a willingness and determination to endure to the end. It is as it should be, for we are following in the footsteps, of the man who for the Joy set before him endured the cross. Come to Jesus. Let him show you what abundant life is.

Hope in the Coming Year

2007-12-31T16:56:00.000-05:00

As 2007 comes to a close, we often look back over the year remembering high points and low points. We look forward to the coming year and what we hope to accomplish, what we hope to do different. 2008 promises to be a great year for Christ Community. Of course, we look forward to laying our foundation and getting our new house of worship built. More important though, is the people whose lives will be changed by the power of Jesus Christ in this coming year. It will be a year of growth, with adults becoming more rooted and grounded in Christ, and young people coming of age and being confirmed in the faith. Probably most exciting of all is not what we expect, but the unexpected. What new thing is God going to do in our lives? How is he going to challenge us and stretch us? How will be bless us and strengthen us? What seeds that have been sown will begin to sprout and bring forth growth? We shall see. What ever happens, we know that we face a bright future in God. As the Apostle Paul said, we know what hour it is. The night is far gone and the day is at hand.

Does the coming year fill you with hope and anticipation? If not perhaps you should consider drawing closer to the One who holds all of our tomorrows in his hands. Don't be afraid, it is still the age of grace. His invitation is still open to anyone who will receive it. God loves you. He really wants you to be reconciled to him. If you come to him, he will not turn you away. Make 2008 the year you came out of the shadows in to the bright light of his presence.

Committed to Community

2007-12-15T12:00:00.001-05:00

It is a paradox. On the one hand, we can speak of our planet shrinking. With modern transportation, distances become insignificant. A person can be just about anywhere in the world in the space of 24 hours. Many people today commute 30 minutes or an hour each day just for work. With modern technology, a person can live almost anywhere and conduct business around the world. It is truly amazing. However on the other hand, we have become distant, remote from the people closest to us. We may say that we are connected, communicating on cell phones, in chat rooms, by email, and text messaging, but frequently do not even know our next door neighbor.

Don't misunderstand. Modern technology is beneficial in many ways. However, there is no substitute for genuine human contact, such as shaking hands, talking face to face with another person, or lending a helping hand. In a world that is increasingly remote, we need to cherish our personal and immediate relationships. When we chose a name for Christ Community, we did so with a purpose. Christ is the center, He is the purpose underlying all that we do. We also wanted to communicate our intention to be a community church, that is, a church for our community. That doesn't mean that we do not get involved in world missions efforts. We believe in and support world missions. Yet we strive to be a church that fosters, builds up, and serves the people of our neighborhood. We count it a privilege to live among such remarkable neighbors. Christ Community Church is a place where you can connect with your neighbors, and build healthy, lasting relationships, not on a screen, but face to face. Most importantly, it is a place where you can meet Jesus, or renew your relationship with him. What better time, then Advent and Christmas to renew you relationship with your Savior.

Finding Grace

2007-11-10T13:35:00.000-05:00

"Lord, send a great revival!" It continues to be a frequent prayer on the lips of many devout followers of Jesus. It expresses a heart's yearning. Sometimes it is yearning for by-gone days, rekindling memories of past experiences. Sometimes it is yearning for a spiritual warming in our own hearts personally. Regardless, it is an affirmation that everything is not as it should be. It is a statement of the intuitive knowledge that there is more to the Christian life than we are presently living, that there is more to church life than we are experiencing. We are not receiving all that God has for us. Some traditions address this dilemma by scheduling revival services, or evangelistic campaigns. Ironically, even the most dynamic and exciting events, fail to make a long term difference in our lives. Why is that? It could be that we just don't pray enough, or that we are not serious enough, devoted enough, or there is hidden sin in our lives. No matter. The bottom line is that it is our fault, not God's. It leaves us with a grim outlook and the intolerable burden of fixing what is broken in our lives.
However, what if there is another solution? Could it be, that God has really made available everything necessary for salvation? That even now it is at our fingertips? Scripture teaches us that He has. What if what we really need is simply more grace? more of the presence of Jesus in our lives? Could it be, that we are in fact, saved by grace through faith, and that we are weak and sickly in our Christian walk because we are neglecting the ordinary means of receiving God's grace? The Apostle Paul said so in his letter to the church at Corinth. (1 Corinthians 11:27-30) Sure you might need to be more disciplined in your prayer life, more devoted in your scriptural study, but the real problem cannot be fixed by trying harder. You cannot pay for what is freely given. We need more of Jesus, more of his grace working in our lives.
Are you hungry for more of God's presence in your life? need more grace? Jesus has extended his invitation to you. He said, "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me...He who eats this bread will live forever." (John 6:56-58) It was Jesus himself, who said, this "bread is my body", and this "wine is my blood." Maybe it is time you came back to his table.

Laying Foundations

2007-09-18T18:10:00.000-04:00

Jesus told a parable once about one man who built his house on stone, and another who built his house on sand. Do you remember the song? If you are building a house, you want the foundation to be s0lid. If you are building a church you want the foundation to be sound as well. Christ Community began excavation for construction of its future house of worship last month. The picture at right shows our "pad" prepared for the footing. We want our foundation to be firm, sound, solid, lest we jeopardize all that we build on top of it. The same is true when building/planting a church. Christ Community Church is a young mission, yet it is founded on the ancient foundation, the faith, handed down through generations to this very day by Jesus Christ himself, through the hands of His Apostles. It is the faith that has stood the test of time. It is the same faith that will stand until the end of time. It is the faith for every generation.
Are you tired of all the religious fads? Are you looking for a solid foundation for your faith that will not shift with the next "new" thing that comes along? Maybe you should take a closer look at the Anglican tradition. Come and See how the ancient faith can refresh and renew your faith and love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

When the "Same old, same old" is New

2007-08-18T10:13:00.001-04:00

Now there is a bit of irony. Since when, is the same old thing new? Is it possible that history can so fall out of use that it becomes new again? Believe it or not, this is the reality that we live in. Let's face the facts. There just is not a strong Anglican or Catholic presence in south central Kentucky. We are of course seeking to change that, but as it stands when neighbors from our community visit Christ Community, it all seems so new to them. Most people do not come to church for lessons in history, they come to worship the Lord. Sometimes they may become uneasy or distracted and miss the point of the liturgy. The liturgy is aimed, from beginning to end, at exalting and adoring God, and bringing us close to Him. I rarely get a chance to explain to visitors that our worship is actually following the pattern that has been used for almost 2000 years. Furthermore, it is the same pattern used by the vast majority of Christians world wide each Sunday! Some one might respond, "Just because most 'Christians' worship this way does not make it right." Point granted, but neither does it make it wrong. Truth or falsehood is not a matter of public opinion. Something is right because it is true, that is, not in anyway contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Truth. The better measure of the pattern of worship is whether or not it is true, not whether it is comfortable, or whether you have never done it that way before. If you visit Christ Community Church, or any church for that matter, take the time to listen to the words that are said, the actions preformed and on that basis, weigh its merit.

Building Households of Faith, into the Household of Faith

2007-07-18T22:42:00.000-04:00

From our founding in the year 2000, we have set our course to be a people gathered to worship God and “re-present” Christ to our community and our world. It is our goal to be a safe and stable place for families to grow in the Lord. We find this stability in the rich heritage of the Christian Faith as it has been believed and practiced for nearly 2000 years. As an Anglican-catholic mission of the Missionary Society of St. John the Evangelist, we are under the careful oversight of a godly Bishop in valid Apostolic succession. Biblical teaching, spiritual and sacramental worship, pastoral care, spiritual direction, evangelism, and fellowship are all part of our life at Christ Community. Whether you are just learning about the Christian faith or a long established Christian looking for a Church home, you are welcome. Christ Community Church is a place where you can grow, and continue your journey in the Lord.