Does God Exist? A Debate Between Two Brothers

The Hitchens brothers (Christopher is on the left, Peter on the right) span a theological divide: Christopher is an avowed atheist. Peter is a Christian (and Anglican). Christopher has written a book attacking religious belief entitled "God is Not Great."

Each of us probably know folks who would profess to be atheists. How do we, as Christians, respond in a way that provides a faithful witness to God's truth? Peter Hitchens has clearly given this much thought and has made a response that can be read here. If you'd like to join the discussion on this topic, feel free to comment on this post.

Anglicans in America

The Common Cause Partnership is the umbrella under which all the Anglican churches in the United States are forming. The Archbishop of Uganda made it clear that his oversight of American churches is 'an ecclesial refugee ministry'; a temporary provision until the Anglican Churches in the United States are ready to stand on their own as a seperate province. The Common Cause Partnership is the beginning of this province. It includes Anglican Churches in the United States that are currently overseen by Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South America, and Southeast Asia. It also will include those diocese currently in the Episcopal Church that are in the process of leaving.

The Partnership has a new website that provides the opportunity for you to give feedback to the leadership, and to learn more about Anglican theology. You can go to the website by clicking here.

A Christmas Letter from Archbishop Orombi

Archbishop Orombi has sent a Christmas letter to all the Anglican churches overseas. Take a moment to read it here.

The Middle Schoolers Have a New Name

Almost unanimously, we have chosen to become the “Trinity Transformers”! We send many thanks to Stephanie for the suggestion and the biblical references supporting it. Those bible verses were very convincing and when Dawn told us there is a Mr. Potato Head Transformer we could use as a mascot, well that clinched it! (I asked what the Mr. Potato Head Transformer transformed into and was told, “A potato, of course”!) Hopefully we Trinity Transformers will be transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ!Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful suggestions!

Kathy

A New Web Page

Our Website has a new page that provides links to sermons (by Fr. Andrew and Bishop Guernsey) and other resources (such as an interview with Archbishop Orombi). The new page is cleverly named "Sermons and Resources" and you can get to it by clicking here. Enjoy!

Newsletter for December 9th

The Newsletter/Bulletin for Sunday December 9th can be found by clicking here.

Set Up Sunday Morning at 8:30

Again, this week we are going to set up for worship on Sunday at 8:30 am NOT Saturday night. This will most likely become the norm in the future as we're becoming familiar with the new space.

Bishop John Guernsey

This week Bishop John Guernsey and the Rev. Meg Guernsey (his wife) will be visiting Holy Trinity for the first time! Come join us for two nights of teaching and fellowship this Monday and Tuesday evening between 6 and 8pm at Hope Reformed Church. (Our friends at Hope have been very supportive over the last months, and we are grateful for their eagerness to help us find space in which to meet this week.)

These gatherings will be a perfect time to grow, and learn more about the work of the Holy Spirit that is taking place through the Anglican Church. Bishop Guernsey will lead two sessions on the topic of prayer, and will be available to answer your questions about prayer, or Anglicanism, or whatever else might be on your mind. I think that you will find our time together most encouraging, and at the close of Tuesday night’s service we will have the opportunity to renew our baptismal vows as we continue in this new work.

Please make an effort to attend, even if only for a part of the time, so that you can gain a greater understanding of the larger Church of which we are a part. For those coming straight from work (or school), there will be soup provided, as well as refreshments (coffee & cookies).

What an adventure! Learning God's Priorities.

What an intense trip this 40 Days of Personal Revival has been. Thank you Anne Graham Lotz for the amazing structure and your book, I Saw the Lord, which helped to inspire it. In a way, I feel as though we are just on the periphery looking in on the life in Christ that God has for us at Holy Trinity. The more I delve into the Scriptures, experience the depth of my sin and begin to glimpse our awesome God, the more I realize how little I have truly seen. But, I realize now...I needed to leave the Episcopal Church where the Spirit was easily quenched before I/we together could truly grow.

God is calling us as a people to come back to His heart and back to the basics. He is calling us to let Him redesign our church with His priorities.
These are the priorities we keep coming back to:

• Worship is the work of the people. It is both adoration as well as the offering of ourselves to God and within it we begin to experience God's heart. "He inhabits the praises of His people." Worship is deserving work and in order to do it well, we need to prepare throughout the week in prayer and Scripture. When we worship with our whole selves, we are not disappointed! He promises to come in all His fullness.
• The Primacy of Scripture - Scripture is not just a guideline for our lives but the true Word of Christ. Through it the Spirit speaks to the churches and will guide our mission.
• The Importance of Prayer - For some reason God desires to partner with us in prayer and uses our prayer to bring "His Kingdom Come" on earth as it is in heaven. We can no longer live as though prayer is optional. Prayer is both conversation as well as participation with the Ruler of the Universe.
• Stewardship of our Lives. Stewardship is the opposite of greed. King David refused to sacrifice to God with bulls that had been given to him. "I will not give to God that which has cost me nothing." Wow. I feel convicted. Stewardship is worshipping with our lives, worshipping with sincerity.
• The Filling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the breath in our dry bones, the power in our lives and the grace to desire more...more of all of life in God. Our participation in the life of God begins with our acknowledging our inability to even desire to be changed or to come into contact with a Holy God. When we admit our limitations and ask for each step of our lives to be in step with God, the Spirit bestows desire as well as strength for the journey.
• Because of the filling of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts with continue to arise within the body at Holy Trinity. Prophets, healers, teachers and more! Holy Trinity will be the place where unbelievers begin to experience the power of God and hunger for more.

God has so much in store for us...and the adventure has just begun! I can't wait for tomorrow, let alone Sunday!

Mother Summer

An Answer to Prayer

We have been praying that God would bring us together with musicians who have both a love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the skills to lead worship. We are very happy to announce that beginning November 18th Star and Charlie Fritsche will be helping to lead worship at Holy Trinity! Continue to pray for God's blessing as we begin this exciting new ministry together.

We've Got Mail

We have recieved many, many encouraging emails from folks around the country who have heard our story and written to wish us well. Below is one from today:

I am blessed to hear of the new work God is doing in your midst.

The Lord gave me this song for you just now! I praise God for your faithfulness.

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,if with his love he befriend thee.

Your Sister in Christ and friend,
Merlena

Middle Schoolers Need a New Name

The Middle Schoolers want a new name. "Rite-13" was just sooooo last year. If you have a suggestion let 'em know.

Welcome!

Welcome to Holy Trinity Anglican Church's Blog! Our first Sunday of worship was November 4th, and it was great to be together. If you'd like to add a comment to this thread, we'd love to hear from you. Just click on the word 'comment' below. Blessings, Fr. Andrew+