No service at Manassas this Sunday. We are always open in Gainesville for our 10am service. We will be posting our new Manassas schedule soon.
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“Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.” –Jonathan Edwards Luke 1:26-33 “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Christmas is a wonderful time of year to think about the art of greeting. Already Christmas cards are wending their way around the world in order to arrive before December 25th. If they are well chosen they will display a distinctly religious sentiment, perhaps a nativity scene or wise men following a star to Bethlehem. Many cards will be secular in nature utilizing the secondary symbols of the season such as a chubby Santa, an energetic reindeer, or carefully wrapped presents. Most people can’t think of anything original to write in their cards, sticking with a safe ‘Merry Christmas’ or the anemic politically correct, ‘seasons greetings’ or a quick and easy sentiment like ‘love from all of us to all of you.’ Whenever we visit our friends or bump into them at the shops, we will probably greet them with, ‘Merry Christmas’. Luke’s biography of Jesus begins with an unusual greeting. The angel says, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke notes that Mary is puzzled by this greeting, never mind that an actual angel has appeared to her! We must assume that she is frightened because the next words from Gabriel are words of comfort and assurance, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.’ Yet beyond her natural shock and apprehension remains this deep puzzlement about the nature of the greeting from the angel. Highly favored? What can it mean? It speaks well of her humility that she would never assume that she is ‘highly favored’ by God! Nor would she assume that the Lord God was present with her in any special way, except perhaps in the general sense that he is everywhere present. So why this particular greeting? The gospel is good news for all mankind and it begins with grace. Mary is the first recipient of that grace which is defined as undeserved favor from a merciful God. A. W. Tozer defines grace like this, “Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines him to bestow benefits upon the undeserving. It is a self-existent principle inherent in the divine nature and appears to us as a self-caused propensity to pity the wretched, spare the guilty, welcome the outcast, and bring into favor those who were before under just disapprobation. Its use to us sinful men is to save us and make us sit together in heavenly places to demonstrate to the ages the exceeding riches of God’s kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
As Copernicus, the great astronomer, was dying, a copy of his great book, The Revolution of the Heavenly Bodies, was placed in his hands. But it was not his brilliant work that was on his mind. Instead he directed that the following epitaph be placed on his grave at Frauenburg: “O Lord, the faith thou didst give to St. Paul, I cannot ask; the mercy thou didst show to St. Peter, I dare not ask; but, Lord, the grace thou didst show unto the dying robber that, Lord, show to me.” There is no one who cannot come to God under those terms. Mary in her great song we call the magnificat (Luke 1:46), gives the reason for her outburst of praise. It is in response to the grace and mercy of God which she has just (over …)experienced. Conscious of her own sinfulness she reaches out to God whom she calls ‘my savior’. If even Mary needs a savior, then surely we all do. She says that God has lifted up the humble and we can be assured that God will lift us up this Christmas season if we approach him with the same kind of humility exhibited by young Mary. Athanasius sums it up like this, ‘He became what we are that he might make us what he is’. Mary could not possibly understand the science nor the theology of the incarnation, but she exhibited that simple faith which accepts the sovereign acts of God, and submits her will to the plan of God not knowing the future but trusting the Lord for the moment. “Lying at your feet is your dog. Imagine, for the moment, that your dog and every dog is in deep distress. Some of us love dogs very much. If it would help all the dogs in the world to become like them, would you be willing to become a dog? Would you put down your human nature, leave your loved ones, your job, hobbies, your art and literature and music, and choose instead of the intimate communion with your beloved, the poor substitute of looking into the beloved’s face and wagging your tail, unable to smile or speak? Christ by becoming man limited the thing which to Him was the most precious thing in the world; his unhampered, unhindered communion with the Father. ” C.S. Lewis. Mary turned the greeting of the angel into a song of praise. May our greetings to one another this Christmas season be likewise inspired by the enormity of the incarnation and the humility of our acceptance of Gods mission through Christ. For truly, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Pastor Robin Adams
“You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” Acts 10:36 Come join us next Sunday! Sharing Jesus Christ is the mission indeed the passion of our community. We believe that Jesus is the word of God, ‘in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made through Him’ We also know that Jesus is the hope of the world for ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself’. Jesus said of himself, ‘I am the bread of life’. Advent is the season of hope as we think about the ‘advent’ or arrival of Jesus in the three biblical senses of the incarnation 2000 years ago, the receiving of Jesus into a persons life today at conversion and the imminent return of Jesus Christ to be the judge of the living and the dead. Advent is not just about getting ready for Christmas but ready for Christ in each of these three senses. Therefore Church of the Word in Gainesville, is establishing an extension campus in nearby Manassas to help further our mission. read on… AFiM is an extension campus of Church of the Word, Gainesville. It is another worship site for that congregation and most ministry is available through our programs there. We are not currently a part on the Anglican Church in North America, though as soon as this option becomes available to us we will be delighted to return home. Meanwhile we are anglican in style and substance, but more importantly simply Christian, as N.T. Wright might say.
Music: So far we have decided to use ‘Renew’ hymnal, described like this, ‘Born in the worship renewal, this songbook brings together the best from traditional and contemporary worship. Following the biblical and historic fourfold pattern of worship Gathering, The Word, Offering Thanksgiving (Eucharist) and Dismissal.’ Liturgy: Our liturgical worship booklet is drawn from the 2004 Irish Book of Common Prayer because it is the most modern of Anglican Liturgies but yet keeps the integrity of the classical principles of our tradition. We have the service printed on a booklet for easy use. Even if you are not experienced in liturgy you will find this approach helpful in bringing you closer to God in worship. Participation: Your participation and ideas are welcome. This fellowship is being shaped by those who are becoming involved. Later we will have a more formal launch of the service. We will become more visible in Manassas with local mission projects and fellowship opportunities. look within this website for upcoming events, or suggest one yourself! We appreciate the invitation from our brothers and sisters in Christ at Crossway fellowship to meet at their excellent facility. Please feel free to e-mail me Pastor Robin with your questions To see how ancient christian songs can be given new life check out Glory to God on you-tube a modern setting of the ‘Gloria’ written by our Gainesville team ‘Braeded Chord‘! Continue reading What is AFiM all about?
Church of the Word is offering the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University 13 week course starting Sunday Jan 22nd @ 5pm in Gainesville. A preview will be offered on Sunday Jan 8th at 5pm. 14215 Lee Highway, Gainesville, VA 20155
Class Begins: Jan 22, 2011 Coordinator: Donna Adams, for contact info, directions and how to register online go to http://churchoftheword.net/fpu2.html For testimonies from ordinary people struggling with your issues see http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/testimonies/
The NALC was constituted on August 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio, at a Convocation organized by the church reform movement Lutheran CORE. One year earlier, a similar gathering of Lutheran CORE had directed its leadership to develop new organizational alternatives for faithful Lutheran Christians in North America. In response to numerous requests from congregations for the creation of a new Lutheran church body, Lutheran CORE developed ‘A Vision and a plan’ for the North American Lutheran Church and Lutheran CORE, published in February 2010. Six months later, our new church body was formed. The constituting Convocation was attended by nearly 1,000 members and visitors from across North America. A number of other church bodies sent leaders to greet the Convocation, including the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, and the Anglican Church in North America. Bishop Benson Bagonza of the Karagwe Diocese, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, preached at the closing worship and along with retired Bishop Ken Sauer, installed the Rev. Paull E. Spring as the first Bishop of the NALC. The North American Lutheran Church (NALC) http://thenalc.org has been blessed with extraordinarily rapid growth. At the time of the constituting Convocation in August 2010, seventeen congregations had voted to join the NALC. One year later, that number had grown to more than 250 congregations. Of those, roughly 35 were mission congregations, reflecting the priority placed on missions and evangelism by the NALC. We give thanks to God for all that has been accomplished, and seek His guidance as we move into the future with excitement. This movement among Lutherans is simular to the reform taking place among Anglicans today in North America. As the two movements are very simular in doctrine and worship look for lots of co-operation at the local level.   E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download (179.6KB) 9/11 PRAYER Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of all mercy and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows so that we can comfort others in their sorrows with the consolation we ourselves have received from God. Amen. On this somber day, we trust in the expectation of the resurrection to eternal life, as we remember this day those who died on the Eleventh of September, 2001 and the 10 years of conflict which have followed, and who now rest from their labors, especially those colleagues and acquaintances who remember the event with anguish still. Amen. Keep us in union with all your saints, and bring us with them to the joyous feast of heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. Protect our nation and those who stand to defend it at home and overseas. Amen. Give wisdom to our leaders and all leaders around the world as we seek to make the world a safer and saner home for all God’s people. Amen. Wednesday at the Word ‘Wednesday at the Word’ is one of the programs we offer at Church of the Word in Gainesville. It is a mid week program with something for everyone in the family. It has four essential elements. A simple but home cooked meal offered from 6:00pm until 6:45pm. The cost is only $1 per person, but you must sign up ahead of time! You can do this by calling the office at 703-754-9673 or pastor@churchoftheword.net. Usually about 40+ people sign up for this and about as many again join us later for the programs. Three programs run from 6:45 – 8:15pm
If you can’t make the meal at 6pm do please come along later to one of the other events, no need to register ahead of time. In case of inclement weather please call the church ahead of time or check with one of the leaders. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/special/johnstott.html?gclid=CNyvgInirqoCFY5x5QodMj-dYQ read about a great anglican evangelical leader Understanding the Atonement is about more than grasping a theory. Philip Yancey Google the words atonement and emergent church together, and your computer screen will soon heat up a few degrees. A lively (and not always civilized) debate has broken out among those who defend classical theories of the Atonement and those who see them as some variation of the caricature Dorothy Sayers drew 60 years ago: God wanted to damn everybody, but his vindictive sadism was sated by the crucifixion of his own Son, who was quite innocent, and, therefore, a particularly attractive victim. He now only damns people who don’t follow Christ or who have never heard of him. Since Jesus’ death nearly 2,000 years ago, theologians such as Origen, Anselm of Canterbury, Peter Abelard, and John Calvin have proposed ways of understanding it: as a Ransom paid to Satan, a Satisfaction required by God, a Moral Influence for humanity, a Penal Substitution for the punishment due to humankind. Some of these theories, referencing animal sacrifices and God’s wrath, can make for a hard sell for many in modern times. The Cross is the central image of Christianity, and gives us vivid proof that, in novelist Flannery O’Connor’s words, the world “has, for all its horror, been found by God to be worth dying for.” Yet theologians must somehow explain how Jesus’ death differs in essence from the death of any great leader. What made it necessary, and exactly how did it affect our relationship with God? During Holy Week last year, I found myself reflecting not so much on the theoretical rationale for the Atonement as on its practical outworking. Three insights from that week: (1) The Cross made possible a new intimacy with God. Three of the Gospels mention that at the moment of Jesus’ death, a thick curtain inside the temple tore from top to bottom, exposing the Most Holy Place. Traditionally, only once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), could the high priest enter the fearsome Most Holy Place. Preparations involved ritual baths, special clothes, and five separate animal sacrifices, and still the priest entered with apprehension about committing an offense. He wore bells on his robe and a rope around his ankle so that if the bells fell silent, other priests could retrieve his body. The Book of Hebrews draws a vivid contrast: the author says believers can now “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (4:16). No image could be more shocking for devout Jews than charging boldly into the Most Holy Place. Therefore, concludes the author of Hebrews, “let us draw near to God” (10:22). Because of Jesus, we need no protective curtain; God has provided a sufficient Mediator for all time. While visiting the United States in 1962, theologian Karl Barth faced a questioner intent on pinning down exactly when he had been saved. Barth replied, “It happened one afternoon in A.D. 34 when Jesus died on the cross.” Love finds a way to overcome all obstacles to uniting with the beloved, no matter the cost. (2) The Cross reveals the limits of human achievement. Paul wrote, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col. 2:15). Pontius Pilate had Jesus’ “crime”—King of the Jews—posted in three languages, in ironic tribute to the travesty of justice. A public spectacle it was indeed when the most refined religious authorities of the time ganged up on an innocent man, and the most renowned justice system carried out the sentence. Writer Thomas Merton points out that “no one saw the Resurrection. Everyone saw the Crucifixion. Everyone does see the Crucifixion. The Cross is everywhere.” It should give us pause, this sign of contradiction, when we are tempted to look to politics or science to solve the deepest problems of humanity. Christ exposed as false gods the very powers in which men and women take most pride and invest most hope. (3) The Cross brings to light an unexpected quality of the Godhead: humility. As Paul expressed in Philippians 2: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing … he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (v. 5-8). The poor and disadvantaged respond by instinct to this personal identification: witness the sermons in Appalachia or the base communities in Latin America that center on the Cross. Novelists know it too: Graham Greene, Georges Bernanos, and Ignazio Silone all made the sacrament commemorating Jesus’ death the centerpiece of their finest works. Whatever else we may say about it, the Atonement fulfills the Jewish principle that only one who has been hurt can forgive. At Calvary, God chose to be hurt. “This article first appeared in (insert date) issue of Christianity Today. Used by permission of Christianity Today International, Carol Stream, IL 60188.” |
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Anglican Fellowship in Manassas | About | Services | | RSS Feed |
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We meet at 4pm at the Crossway Fellowship Church location on Plantation Lane near Prince William Hospital, in their side chapel which has easy access from the front parking lot.
