Epiphany Service, Monday January 6, 7:00 PM

Is Christianity on the rise In America?

It appears obvious to me that the last half-century or so has been marked by a steady erosion of Christianity in American life. This has been attributed to a number of causes including a false understanding of the Constitutional position on the relationship between Church and State, the hostility of many prominent scientists to the possibility of the existence of God, rampant materialism, Marxist political theory, and too many others to name. Whatever the cause or causes, there now seeks to be an emerging sense that perhaps the pendulum has begun to swing back, that maybe, just maybe, we will see a revival of faith and of Christian practice in American life.

Whether or not that is so, what is undeniably true is that it is the simple duty of every Christian to work and pray that Christ's name be praised, Christ's Gospel story be told, and Christ's saving message be heard and sincerely believed by all of sinful humanity. You hear that at every celebration of the Holy Eucharist: 'Hear also what Saint Paul saith. “This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”'

That verse from First Timothy is a part of the section of the liturgy known as “The Comfortable Words,” and it should be remembered that “comfortable” in it's original sense did not mean “cozy” or “relaxing” or “congenial to our tastes or desires.” It comes from the Latin word “confortō”, meaning “to greatly strengthen,” which was formed from the Latin words “con,“ meaning “with” or “together” and “fortis,” meaning “strong.” The Comfortable Words are intended to strengthen us to to be and to do what Christ would have us be and do.

Epiphany, the remembrance of the coming of the Wise Men to acknowledge the infant Christ as what the hymn “We Three Kings” phrases as “God and King and Sacrifice,” is a missionary Feast Day because the Magi were not Jews but Gentiles. It means that that we are to understand that Saint Paul's words to Timothy are a simple literal truth: “This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” All men. All human beings.

When John Henry Hopkins wrote that hymn in 1857 Anglicans in both Britain and America were passionately committed to the task of spreading the Gospel to what was referred to as “the mission field.” Men and women in their thousands left their homes to attempt to spread the Gospel message in some of the most difficult and dangerous places on earth. Many suffered greatly to do so, often dying of diseases unknown in Europe and America or being killed by the people whom they had hoped to save.

Well, that was 1857, and this is 2025. The mission field now begins at the church door. The opportunity and the responsibility of teaching the Gospel to an unbelieving world is not only the duty of those who are called to travel far away to do so. It is yours and it is mine.

Nice words, but what would that mean in practice? What exactly am I going to call upon you to do? I'm not going to urge you to start preaching on street corners. We are after all, Anglicans (that was humor, folks). But I do have a very simple and concrete suggestion. Well, actually, two suggestions.

I made the first in a recent sermon. Make a habit of wearing something, something tasteful – we are, after all, Anglicans – that marks you as a Christian. A lapel pin, a necklace, cufflinks, a ring, something with an unmistakable Christian symbol. Or get a coffee cup (or tea mug – we are, after all, Anglicans)– and use it at work. Doing so will be a constant reminder to you that your language, manner, and behavior will reflect to others what a Christian is. It may even cause some to ask you about it. I Peter 3:15 encourages us to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.” If they ask, you answer, simply and directly. That's evangelism. It's not confrontational, it's not self-righteous, and above all, it's not arrogant. That's why the remarkably quotable Sri Lankan Methodist evangelist D. T. Niles said “Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find the bread.”

The second suggestion is extremely similar. When you see someone wearing an explicitly Christian symbol, even if it's not at all tasteful (and some are pretty gaudy, but remember that not all serious Christians are Anglicans - that's another attempt at humor, folks), thank them, and tell them that it's heartening and reassuring to see Christians reminding the world that Jesus is alive and at work. I've been doing this for a couple of weeks now and I heartily recommend it. I take real pleasure in seeing the surprised smiles that it evokes from Christians that I do not know and who know nothing about me except that we are members of the same body, “the blessed company of all faithful people.”

And perhaps it may be a tiny bit evangelistic, too. I do wonder what the other people in the supermarket thought when they saw an old white guy in jeans and a flannel shirt with an NRA ballcap (my usual winter uniform) and a young Hispanic guy wearing a “Jesus es el Rey” tee shirt smiling and bumping fists in the condiments aisle. They may even have thought there might be something to that Jesus stuff, after all, and decided to look into it.

And for those of you who were expecting this to be about the New Year, well, you're supposed to be making resolutions, right?

-- Father Bragg+

To do good, and to distribute, forget not; for with such sacrifices
God is well pleased

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Services & Events

Sunday Services, 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM, & 11:15 AM (for online participation for the services go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland) 

Sunday School, 10:30 AM

Nursery 9:00 & 11:15 Services

Epiphany Service, Monday January 6, 7:00 PM

Vestry Meeting, Tuesday, January 21, 7:30 PM

Annual Meeting, Sunday January 26, following a combined 10:00 AM Service, please fill out a proxy in case you cannot attend: they are available on the narthex table or email Senior Warden Ron Pearson to let him know you are giving him or the Rector your proxy in case you can't be there (ron@pearsonandpipkin.com)

CURRENT LlST OF NEEDS FOR MaRIH CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER

Please help MaRIH Center now. The need is great and urgent this time of year. With its all volunteer staff the Center provides help to mothers-to-be and mothers in need.  Please provide some of the items that are needed. (You can leave the donations where the food for the food bank is collected on the pew in the undercroft.)

Especially Needed
 In Bold and with an asterisk are a critical need.

Diapers (sizes newborn, *1, 2, 3, *4, *5, & *6)
*Lovies
*Baby wipes
*Diaper rash ointment
*Baby shampoo
*Baby blankets
*Baby bottles
*Bibs toddler
*Formula: *Simulac Advance Formula
Formula: other but not recalled
*Wash clothes
*Hooded towels
*Fall Winter clothing: 3-6 mo, 2T
*Winter coats 2T
*Grocery gift cards
 
Food Bank Needs

The food bank appreciates the generosity of our parish.Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Those we help feed are very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar).  Current needs include the following:
canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
peanut butter
jelly
tuna
canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
 individual fruit cups (low sugar)
canned fruit (low sugar)
canola or vegetable oil (48 oz)
boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
pasta (regular and gluten-free):
instant potatoes
single serving fruit juice
macaroni & cheese
soups: Chunky or Progresso,noodle soup; chicken broth, cream of mushroom
coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
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