Friday, June 26, 2020

HOLY CROSS UPDATE — June 26, 2020

SUNDAY SERVICES — 9:00 AM

We are happy to announce that public Services have resumed at Holy Cross parish. Please note the new time of 9:00 AM.

We will be having Morning Prayer with a Sermon for the foreseeable future. The Service will be said rather than sung.

The English Office Noted and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer which are essentially the same) are the Service books we use at Holy Cross parish. Sunday, June 28th, is the fourth Sunday after Pentecost. The Psalms used will be the Psalms for the Twenty-eighth Day at Morning Prayer (page 197 in The English Office Noted, and page 508 in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer). The Canticles will be the Venite (short ending), the Te deum, and the Benedictus. The Psalms and Canticles will be recited responsively.

It is important that we all work together in following the CDC guidelines to keep everyone safe during the pandemic, while we look forward to a return to normal, and to our Cantor and Schola Cantorum once again leading us in singing.

The chapel door will be kept open so no one need handle the door knob, and to promote fresh air circulation. With summer temperatures upon us, we have decided to move Services up from 10:00 AM to 9:00 AM to take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures.   It is also be quieter earlier in the morning with  fewer cars driving by or pulling into the parking lot.

We will all need to maintain at least six (6) feet of social distancing; and the wearing of a face mask is strongly encouraged, unless there is a medical issue preventing it, in order to reduce the spread of droplets from our breath. Services will be said rather than sung because we would need more social distancing for singing. We should only be in the chapel for around an hour, but if anyone becomes too warm they can always step outside for some fresh air.

We have closed a number of pews so every pew open for use will be separated by a closed pew or an isle. We will need to do our very best to maintain social distancing so worshippers will need to spread out. Each pew is approximately ten feet long, so it is possible for people to sit on opposite ends while maintaining social distancing. 

The restroom in the chapel will be closed. Should anyone need to use a restroom, the restroom in the parish hall will be available. Please avoid entering the parish hall unless to use the bathroom.

There will be no fellowship and refreshments after Services at this time.

While I have always encouraged the faithful to arrive early for Services in the past, I ask you not to do so under the present circumstances. Please plan to arrive just in time for Services. This will aid in social distancing and limit personal interaction. You will also want to leave immediately at the conclusion of Services.

If you are not feeling well or may have been exposed to Covid-19 please stay home. No one should enter the building who has a fever, cough, is sneezing, has body aches, may have been exposed to the Coronavirus, or is just not feeling well. We all need to be cautious and protect one another.

Public Services resumed last week and it was a great blessing to be back together again. Come and worship Jehovah our God in the beauty of holiness. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you there!

OUR INCOMPARABLE ENGLISH LITURGY

We are continuing our series on The Faith Once Delivered radio broadcast titled, “The English Spiritual Tradition — Our Roots Run Deep.” You will not want to miss Saturday morning’s broadcast. It is about our incomparable English Liturgy as found in the historic Book of Common Prayer.

Morning and Evening Prayer, the most ancient Services in the Book of Common Prayer, have their roots in the ancient synagogue Services. They are essentially the Holy Scriptures arranged for use in worship.

In his 1946 book, Our National Liturgy — The Book of Common Prayer, English author Alfred Faith writes, 

“The Liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer is the Liturgy of one people, and one people only, namely Israel. The book becomes meaningless unless used by members of the Israel family. The whole structure of the book is orientated to Israel,…

“We are either of Israel by descent or we are Israel by adoption, for, as St. Paul says, ‘If ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise’ (Galatians 3:29). Christ came to confirm the promises made to the fathers (Romans 15:8). Christian, of whatever race you may be, if indeed ye are in Christ, then you are one with Israel, and are privileged to inherit the blessings and to share in the responsibilities of the covenants. How God’s promise to Abram rings out: ‘And in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed’ (Genesis 12:3)… we have been made sons of God (I John 3:2), and that our bounden duty and service is to offer ourselves to God for service, no matter how humble and trivial our part may be in the establishing of His Kingdom upon the earth; taking our share in bringing to fruition that age-long purpose of our Heavenly Father, the consummation of which is to bring the whole world into one great family, and that an Israel family, and God the Father of all. 

“‘And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God’ (Revelation 21:2-3).”

Tell your friends about this informative broadcast and be sure to tune in!

THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED RADIO BROADCAST — Saturday at 9:30 AM CDT Worldwide!

The Faith Once Delivered radio broadcast can be heard in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa on AM and FM radio, or anywhere in the world over the Internet.

Each broadcast is an in-depth Bible study. We let the Scriptures speak for themselves rather than reading them through the lens of human tradition. A lot of important information is packed into every 30 minute broadcast. These broadcasts are solid spiritual food, not milk. 

THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED is heard every Saturday morning at 9:30 AM Central Daylight Time on KCRO Radio 660 AM in Omaha, and 106.7 FM in Lincoln, and can be heard throughout eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. 

NOT IN EASTERN NEBRASKA OR WESTERN IOWA? NO PROBLEM!

You can listen live over the Internet from anywhere in the world. Just go to the KCRO Radio website and click Listen Live:


THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED — PODCASTS

In addition to the radio broadcast every Saturday morning at 9:30 AM Central Daylight Time on KCRO Radio 660 AM in Omaha and 106.7 FM in Lincoln, each episode of THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED is being archived and can be listened to anytime as a Podcast. You can access past radio programs here: 


JULY 1st — Another Prophetic Fulfillment!

On Wednesday of next week (July 1st) Israel is scheduled to recover (annex) large parts of Judea and Samaria. This is very important Biblically. In Acts 3:19-21 we read,

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

God is restoring all things in preparation for the glorious return of Yeshua, Jesus. Israel is the Super Sign of his Coming. All is being made ready for the Return of the King. However, the devil is filled with wrath because he knows that his time is short; and he is doing all he can to delay Christ’s coming. Spiritual warfare is going on all around us. 

Will the devil succeed in delaying Israel’s recovery of their territory? The nations of the world are already threatening Israel. There is a warning of Jihad. We are less than a week away. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

You can read all about what is about to happen in an article from Israel published by the Messianic community there. Do take a few minutes to read the article. It will open your eyes, strengthen your faith, and bless your soul. Here is the link:

Whose Land is it ?  – In Alignment with YHVH’s Promise to Abraham


SUNDAY SERMON

With the coming restoration of Jewish sovereignty over large parts of Judea and Samaria, and all of the Signs of the Times unfolding all around us, I will be preaching this Sunday on Bible Prophecy. You will not want to miss this message. 

Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken!
Who can but prophesy?” — Amos 3:7-8

Invite your friends!

LIFT UP THE TRUMPET!

With the pestilences, unrest, rumors of wars, and more raging all around us there is a great deal of uncertainty, anxiety, and even fear among men. What will happen next? We are now beginning to experience the birth pangs  of the Coming of our Lord. In the world we will have tribulation, but he has overcome the world. The Signs of the Times point to the nearness of his return. Cheer up ye pilgrims, be joyful and sing — Jesus is Coming again!

I am attaching for you a very short video that will encourage and inspire you, and give you hope. Do take a moment to see it!

Lift up the Trumpet - The King's Heralds


EVERYONE IS WELCOME

Please accept my personal invitation to worship with us this Sunday, June 28th, at 9:00 AM. You will be blessed by the worship as God inhabits the praise of His people, and you will be strengthened in your walk with the Lord by my sermon on Bible Prophecy. 


Everyone is invited to worship with us, and all are welcome. We are a faithful and friendly congregation, and we have a place for you. See you Sunday morning!