Values
· Commitment to the Scriptures as God’s Word written, containing all things necessary for salvation.
· Authentic worship which is sensitive to tradition, yet accessible to those who are not accustomed to church.
· Intentional evangelism through friendships and community involvement.
· Leadership consisting of both lay and ordained leaders who share complementary gifts in a mutually-accountable team.
· Prayer as a priority underlying all the church’s activities.
· Openness to the person and work of the Holy Spirit in worship and ministry, including the use of spiritual gifts exercised with discernment and order.
· Multiplication of cells and new churches for the sake of the Kingdom.
· Practical expressions of Christian love within the community wherever there is evident need.
· Ecumenical co-operation with other orthodox Christians.
· Connectedness to Christians world-wide.
· Regular reappraisal of all church activities with reference to the vision, mission, goals and values outlined above.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyred 156 AD
Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and Martyr 23 February 156
Polycarp was Bishop of Smyrna (today known as Izmir), a city on the west coast of Turkey. The letters to the "seven churches in Asia" at the beginning of the book of Revelation include a letter to the church in Smyrna, identifying it as a church undergoing persecution.
Polycarp is said to have known the Apostle John, and to have been instructed by him in the Christian faith. Polycarp, in his turn, was known to Irenaeus, who later became Bishop of Lyons in what is now France. We have (1) Irenaeus's brief memoir of Polycarp; (2) a letter to Polycarp from Ignatius of Antioch, written around 115 AD when Ignatius was passing through Turkey, being sent in chains to Rome to be put to death; (3) a letter from Polycarp to the church at Philippi, written at the same time; and (4) an account of the arrest, trial, conviction, and martyrdom of Polycarp, written after his death by one or more members of his congregation.
Polycarp was denounced to the government, arrested, and tried on the charge of being a Christian. When the proconsul urged him to save his life by cursing Christ, he replied: "Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" The magistrate was reluctant to kill a a gentle old man, but he had no choice.
Polycarp was sentenced to be burned. As he waited for the fire to be lighted, he prayed:
Lord God Almighty, Father of your blessed and beloved child Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and hosts and all creation, and of the whole race of the upright who live in your presence: I bless you that you have thought me worthy of this day and hour, to be numbered among the martyrs and share in the cup of Christ, for resurrection to eternal life, for soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be accepted before you today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, just as you, the faithful and true God, have prepared and foreshown and brought about. For this reason and for all things I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal heavenly high priest Jesus Christ, your beloved child, through whom be glory to you, with him and the Holy Spirit, now and for the ages to come. Amen.
The fire was then lit and shortly thereafter a soldier stabbed Polycarp to death by order of the magistrate. His friends gave his remains honorable burial, and wrote an account of his death to other churches. See the Penguin volume, Ancient Christian Writers.
Prayers (traditional language)
O God, the maker of heaven and earth, who didst give to thy venerable servant, the holy and gentle Polycarp, boldness to confess Jesus Christ as King and Saviour, and steadfastness to die for his faith: Give us grace, after his example, to share the cup of Christ and rise to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Prayers (contemporary language)
O God, the maker of heaven and earth, who gave to your venerable servant, the holy and gentle Polycarp, boldness to confess Jesus Christ as King and Saviour, and steadfastness to die for his faith: Give us grace, following his example, to share the cup of Christ and rise to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Polycarp was Bishop of Smyrna (today known as Izmir), a city on the west coast of Turkey. The letters to the "seven churches in Asia" at the beginning of the book of Revelation include a letter to the church in Smyrna, identifying it as a church undergoing persecution.
Polycarp is said to have known the Apostle John, and to have been instructed by him in the Christian faith. Polycarp, in his turn, was known to Irenaeus, who later became Bishop of Lyons in what is now France. We have (1) Irenaeus's brief memoir of Polycarp; (2) a letter to Polycarp from Ignatius of Antioch, written around 115 AD when Ignatius was passing through Turkey, being sent in chains to Rome to be put to death; (3) a letter from Polycarp to the church at Philippi, written at the same time; and (4) an account of the arrest, trial, conviction, and martyrdom of Polycarp, written after his death by one or more members of his congregation.
Polycarp was denounced to the government, arrested, and tried on the charge of being a Christian. When the proconsul urged him to save his life by cursing Christ, he replied: "Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" The magistrate was reluctant to kill a a gentle old man, but he had no choice.
Polycarp was sentenced to be burned. As he waited for the fire to be lighted, he prayed:
Lord God Almighty, Father of your blessed and beloved child Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and hosts and all creation, and of the whole race of the upright who live in your presence: I bless you that you have thought me worthy of this day and hour, to be numbered among the martyrs and share in the cup of Christ, for resurrection to eternal life, for soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be accepted before you today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, just as you, the faithful and true God, have prepared and foreshown and brought about. For this reason and for all things I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal heavenly high priest Jesus Christ, your beloved child, through whom be glory to you, with him and the Holy Spirit, now and for the ages to come. Amen.
The fire was then lit and shortly thereafter a soldier stabbed Polycarp to death by order of the magistrate. His friends gave his remains honorable burial, and wrote an account of his death to other churches. See the Penguin volume, Ancient Christian Writers.
Prayers (traditional language)
O God, the maker of heaven and earth, who didst give to thy venerable servant, the holy and gentle Polycarp, boldness to confess Jesus Christ as King and Saviour, and steadfastness to die for his faith: Give us grace, after his example, to share the cup of Christ and rise to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Prayers (contemporary language)
O God, the maker of heaven and earth, who gave to your venerable servant, the holy and gentle Polycarp, boldness to confess Jesus Christ as King and Saviour, and steadfastness to die for his faith: Give us grace, following his example, to share the cup of Christ and rise to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Christianity Explored
A ten week course on basic Christianity, based on the Gospel of Mark, begins Sunday evenings from 6-9 pm at the home of Martin and Cynthia Davies, at 1930 Pridy Rd, Comox, BC. The format, similar to the Alpha course, includes supper, a video and discussion. Please RSVP to 250-339-4359.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Vision, Mission and Goals
Vision
To be a Christian community learning together how to know God and to share that knowledge with others.
Mission
To serve the people of the Comox Valley, introducing them to Jesus Christ, welcoming them into His family, equipping them to follow Christ's example, and loving Him with all that we are.
Goals
· To develop small groups and house churches where people can share their lives, support each other practically and spiritually, and explore how to live God's way.
· To gather the groups together regularly to express our love for God using music, prayer, sacraments and teaching from the Bible.
To be a Christian community learning together how to know God and to share that knowledge with others.
Mission
To serve the people of the Comox Valley, introducing them to Jesus Christ, welcoming them into His family, equipping them to follow Christ's example, and loving Him with all that we are.
Goals
· To develop small groups and house churches where people can share their lives, support each other practically and spiritually, and explore how to live God's way.
· To gather the groups together regularly to express our love for God using music, prayer, sacraments and teaching from the Bible.
Monday, February 14, 2005
February 14th
Today is St Valentine's day. Valentine was martyred in Rome c 269 and is said to have left a love letter to his sweetheart; hence the custom of cards and romance on Feb 14th.
It is also the day in the church calendar when St Cyril and St Methodius, two brothers, are remembered for their work in taking the gospel to the Slavic people in the Balkans during the ninth century and for their insistence in using the local language rather than Latin. You can read about them at:
http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/02/14.html
It is also the day in the church calendar when St Cyril and St Methodius, two brothers, are remembered for their work in taking the gospel to the Slavic people in the Balkans during the ninth century and for their insistence in using the local language rather than Latin. You can read about them at:
http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/02/14.html
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