Sunday at Five October 2, 2005

Communion, discussion and supper will be at 2087 Beaton Ave, Comox, at 5pm on Sunday, October 2nd, 2005. Notes will be posted later.

Sunday at Five: 25th September, 2005

Confirming Faith – Week 2: Human Nature and Sin.

This week we are looking at human nature from the perspective of what the Bible teaches.

Christianity has a very high view of Man as God originally intended humankind to be. Read Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 2: 15-26, Psalm 8:4-8, and Colossians 1:15. Man is a mammal but more than an animal.

• What does it mean to say that we were created in God’s image?


• In what ways is Christ similar to us and in what ways is he different?


• In what ways are angels similar to us and in what ways are they different?


• What kind of relationship did our first parents (Adam and Eve) have with God before they sinned?


• Why were we made?


• In what ways are we different from the rest of the animal kingdom?

Christianity has a realistic view of Man as humankind became through rebellion against God. Read Genesis 3. Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 1:18-23 and Romans 3:23. As a result of their rebellion, every human born since has inherited mortality and a bias towards sin. We call this “original sin”.

• What is sIn?


• What is the difference between sins and sin?


• Is anyone entirely evil?


• Is anyone entirely good?


• Can we be good without God?


• Can we ever achieve perfection in this life?


• What was the result of Adam and Eve’s sin (a) for their relationship with God, (b) how they saw themselves and each other and (c) for generations since then?

Christianity provides a unique way for people to be restored to relationship with God. We shall look at this in more depth in the discussions on Jesus’ life and death over the next two weeks


Christianity has a high view of what Man and the universe will be like when Christ returns. We shall look at this at the end of this series. We shall be like him and shall reign with him. There will be a new heaven and earth. All of creation will be renewed





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yucv.com :: Youth Unlimited - A Community

Here is the Youth Unlimited, UNDERGROUND website. The YFC team in the Comox Valley provides an awesome inter-denominational program for teens. Check it out.

Sunday at Five (September 25th, 2005)

Next Sunday, September 25th, we meet at five at Brian and Susan Hamp's house at 4736 Headquarters Rd Courtenay. ( look for the Youth Unlimited sign on the right across the road from Riverbend, past Casa Loma and before Vanier.)

We shall have music and discussion followed by the Lord's Supper and a potluck meal together.

Going Deeper Confir

Going Deeper – Confirming our Faith. Week 1

How do we know God? He is greater than we can imagine or describe but we know him by faith.

He reveals himself:

• Through the Bible  2:Tim 3:16, 2 Peter 1:19-21


• Through the Church


• Through Nature Psalm 19:1-4, Romans 1:20


• Through Experiences


• Through Prayer.

What is God like? Think of words used to describe God.  Think of some metaphors and similes for God. Eg Psalm 18:2, 1John 1:5. Psalm 23:1.

What Christians believe about God:

God is:

• Creator.


• Everywhere


• All-powerful


• Knows everything


• Eternal


• Holy


• Unchanging


• Just


• Merciful


• Love

Look up:

God is active in history: Isaiah 41:1-4
God reveals himself supremely in Jesus:  Hebrews 1:1, John 14:9, Col 1:15
God makes covenants with people: with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses. Jesus introduced the New Covenant.

God is our Father. Luke 1:2. Deuteronomy 32:6.   He is also like a mother. (Isaiah 49:15.)

God is One (Deut 6:4) and Three: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (2 Cor 13:14 and Matt 28:19)

Thoughts to ponder:
How is God related to Creation/Nature?
How do we believe in God when we see suffering?
What does the cross tell us about God?

Going Deeper Confirm

Going Deeper: Confirming our Faith

Introduction
Over the past couple of years at house church we have covered the basics of the Christian faith through the Alpha course, Christianity Explored, The Purpose-Drive Life and an overview of the Bible in The Bible for Blockheads. This Fall we propose to go a bit deeper into the faith by having a series of discussions drawn from the book “Faith Confirmed” by Peter Jackson and Chris Wright (published by SPCK), supplemented by other materials. We may not agree on all their perspectives but the book provides a useful resource. We shall continue to meet on Sundays at five pm combining the study with worship and following it with potluck supper. Bring your friends.

We shall prepare the material ahead of time but the discussions will be informal and interactive. Rather than everyone having a book to study from, there will be questions to use as a basis for discussion.

Most of what we cover will be common to Christians as a whole. On some topics we shall present a range of opinions, attempting to be fair to the different view-points of, say, Roman Catholics and Protestants, while discussing why Anglican Christians arrived at conclusions which recognize the best of both. Initial topics are a revision exercise of what we have already covered in other discussions. We’ll get the most out of it if we try to participate every week. Depending on numbers we shall do an overview of the topic together ad then divide into groups for discussion eg teens/kids and one or more adult group. As always, feel free to ask any question.

Outline:
1 God
2. Human Nature and Sin
3. Jesus: Life and Ministry
4. Jesus: Death and Resurrection
5. The Holy Spirit
6. The Church
7. The Creeds
8 The Bible
9. Living as a Christian
10. Prayer & Worship
11. The Sacraments
12. Baptism
13. Confirmation
14. The Eucharist (ie Communion)
15. Marriage
16. Confession
17. Ordination
18. Anointing the sick (ie. Prayer for healing)
19. Life after Death

Sunday September 18th, 2005

COOL meets at 5pm on this Sunday at 2087 Beaton Ave, Comox, BC for Communion followed by pot-luck supper.
We shall begin a new series on "Faith Confirmed" .

See you there.

Kairos Journal Award Honors Four Anglican Archbishops

On Thursday, September 8, 2005, the Kairos Journal honored four leading Anglican archbishops with the Kairos Journal Award in recognition of their bold and consistent stand for historic orthodoxy in light of theological decline in the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada. The 2005 award recipients were: The Most Rev. Peter Jasper Akinola, Archbishop of All Nigeria; the Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, Archbishop of the Province of Uganda; the Most Rev. Gregory James Venables, Archbishop of the Southern Cone of South America; and the Most Rev. Datuk Yong Ping Chung, Archbishop of the Province of South East Asia. The Journal, an on-line resource with subscribers in over eighty countries, seeks to equip and support pastors and church leaders as they strive to transform the moral conscience of the culture and restore the prophetic voice of the Church.


“The Kairos Journal Award is given to individuals who demonstrate exemplary fidelity to the authority of Scripture and exceptional pastoral courage in their efforts to restore the prophetic voice of the Church,” said publisher Emmanuel A. Kampouris. “I am delighted to present these outstanding individuals with the 2005 award.”


Honorees are further chosen based upon their discernment of, and response to, what the Journal calls the “kairos moment”—a moment of cultural crisis demanding timely action from the Church.


Archbishops Akinola, Orombi, Venables and Yong, part of the Global South, have been at the forefront of the crisis within the Anglican Communion precipitated by actions of the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) and the Anglican Church of Canada. The American and Canadian provinces have embraced theology and practice which is contrary to Scripture, Anglican teaching and historic Christianity. Archbishops Akinola, Orombi, Venables and Yong and their provinces have declared broken or impaired communion with the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada and urged the two churches to repent. The Global South makes up the vast majority of Anglicans world-wide and is the fastest growing segment of the Anglican Communion.


“What affects one part of the Christian Church affects us all,” said Mr. Kampouris. “We hope this award will offer encouragement and support not only of our four honorees and others within the Anglican Communion fighting for orthodoxy but also for clergy across denominational lines who are responding to the ‘kairos moment’.”

Sunday 11th September

COOL Community meets at 1930 Pridy Rd Comox this Sunday . Holy Communion and discussion at 5pm followed by potluck supper. See you there!

On Tuesday 13th we meet at 7pm at Comox Community Baptist Church on Anderton Rd in Comox.

Hurrican Katrina Relief

Hurricane Katrina Strikes Gulf Coast--
Urgent Response is Needed

Hundreds of thousands have been impacted by the recent hurricane in the Gulf Coast, what is emerging as the worst natural disaster to hit the United States. Many are in the affected areas of Louisiana and Mississippi, and countless more have fled to higher ground. Relief agencies are responding, but are overwhelmed, and churches and Christian organizations are seeking to provide help, support and ministry.

The Anglican Mission offices have fielded many calls and emails about the role of the AMiA as this disaster continues to unfold, and about the situation of our churches. Our congregations along Mobile Bay (Christ Anglican Church—Mobile and Grace Anglican Church—Fairhope) witnessed flooding and related property damage. It appears from our communication with them they were on the periphery of this storm, although they are still evaluating the situations of their various families. Power is down in many areas, but the situation there is better than anticipated. Holy Trinity Anglican is in Jackson, Mississippi, and Rector Tim Smith reports that it was rain, wind and some property damage there, as well. They also lost power for a couple of days, but are getting back to normal.

The Anglican Mission does not have congregations in the hardest hit areas of Mississippi and Louisiana, but will be evaluating, through those closest to the situation, the best ways to be involved in response. Hundreds of thousands of storm victims have fled to other areas, including Houston, which has become a major refugee city. Two AMiA congregations there are directly involved in ministering to these people. All Saints Church and Church of the Holy Spirit (the Woodlands) are partnering with other churches and ministries to serve the growing number of refugees in various regions (not just the Astrodome) and those who are coming to Houston to look for relatives.

Some Anglican Mission churches, such as Holy Trinity in Hudson, Ohio, have already responded by sending a team of people to the region, with trucks loaded with supplies. Rector "Doc" Loomis said that his congregation thought the direct approach would be best, and they decided to personally go to the area. Others are collecting suppplies and monies for distribution, and yet others are organizing response teams this week.

You Can Help
Prayer is urgently needed, of course, and there are various ways to provide assistance to the victims. The Anglican Mission in America has established a relief fund, and contributions can be made by sending checks to:

AMiA Katrina Relief
PO Box 3427
Pawleys Island, SC 29585
You can make credit card donations over the phone by calling our National Mission Resource Center at 843-237-0318.

The two churches in Houston have suggested providing gift cards that they can use in reaching out to the storm refugees, and they are needed immediately. These would be gift cards from companies such as WalMart, Sam's Club, Target, etc; phone cards for long distance calling (for those trying to reach loved ones) and gasoline cards. Such gift cards can be sent by individuals or churches to:

The Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit
c/o Loranne Johnson
719 Sawdust Road Suite 103
Spring, TX 77380

These cards will be shared by the outreach ministries of All Saints Church (Fr. Augustine Ogbunugwu, Rector) and Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit (The Rev. Clark Lowenfield, Lead Pastor).












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COOL Celebration

We are having a service of thanksgiving and communion at Comox Community Baptist Church, 1250 Anderton Road Comox, and we would love to have you join us.

Date: Tuesday 13 September, 2005
Time: 7 pm
Guest speaker: Paul Carter
Celebrant: David Bowler

Rev Paul Carter, after distinguished service as a British Paratroop chaplain, moved with his family to Canada to work as a priest in Vancouver. He is now the Network Co-ordinator of the Anglican Communion in Canada, a missionary outreach of the Anglican Provinces of Central Africa, Congo, Kenya, Rwanda and South East Asia. He pastors a new church plant, Immanuel Westside, at UBC campus and co-pastors St Timothy's on the North Shore (North Vancouver) with Rev Ken Bell.