"Amidst the turmoil generated by General Council 2003 and escalated by General Council 2006, it was encouraging to experience the coming together of so many individuals focused on seeking God?s will rather than promoting their own agendas. Council representatives were provided with daily devotionals to study for the two weeks prior to the meeting. The rewards of this concentrated study were evident as the participants spent time on rather mundane business matters like reviewing financial information, electing representatives, and confirming officers, as well as more exciting opportunities to plan for mission ministries and evaluate on a personal and corporate level various aspects of our Christian life. In addition to the scheduled daily worship, prayer and wonderful bible teachings, participants were encouraged to spend time in spontaneous prayer and reflection as matters were brought before them for 'consensus' action.
"As the meeting closed on August 2, two things were very clear to me:
-ACN continues to mature in its commitment to the Core Purpose, Vision and Value declarations that have served as a basis for all actions taken since its formation, and
-Leaders and council members are displaying patience and humility as we wait with sure expectation on God to reveal His plan for us as promised in Jeremiah 29:11.
"What a joy to be allowed to serve and sacrifice for our Lord."
Ann B. Cox, Lay Delegate
Church of the Ascension
Westminster, MD
"As an elected member on the steering committee for the Network, I had been looking forward to our time in Pittsburgh to gather together for prayer and also much needed clarity. With so many things happening since General Convention, I was longing for commentary on the current landscape. Well, through our daily worship and opportunities for prayer, I certainly received my first hope. There was plenty of prayer indeed, but instead of the clarity I had longed for, I found something quite different.
"The conference was really set up to look at aspects of reformation behavior, that is, how do we, who are starting a new movement, leave the old DNA behind? What are the marks of a reformation movement and how do we personally change our behavior so that we can more fully live into what Jesus Christ through the power of His Holy Spirit is moving us to do and be?
"It was challenging and caused me personally to think using the other side of my brain. I am excited that these reformation questions are being asked and further, that we realize that the problem in the church isn't just out 'there', or in 'them' but right here in my own heart. The foundational roots that we put down in Pittsburgh will anchor us wisely as we continue to sail in the storm."
Blessings in Christ,
The Rev. Al Zadig, Delegate
All Saints' Church
Chevy Chase, MD
"One of the great things about the Council meeting was that they did not react to ECUSA. We did not even make any official response to General Convention 2006. Instead the Council just got on with the business of being the real church. I would predict that we will see more of this as things move on as we carry on the tradition of 'the faith once delivered.'"
Raymond J. Dague, Lay Delegate
St. Andrew?s Church
Syracuse, NY
Ministry Focus
South Riding Church
The Rev. Phil Ashey
Fairfax, VA
http://www.southridingchurch.org
"Connecting neighbors to Christ and each other through the Power of the Holy Spirit"...South Riding just finished a six week series on relational evangelism, trained people how to share their personal testimony, and asked them to identify and pray for five neighbors to bring to Christ and to church in the fall. The church gave away copies of Conspiracy of Kindness to their key leaders, and challenged individuals and home groups to do free acts of service in South Riding to demonstrate to their neighbors how God loves them in a practical way. And recently, they commissioned the Outreach Team to prioritize introducing people to Christ in creative ways and serving the needs of our community. Sermon notes from the series are available on the South Riding website.
Trinity Episcopal ChurchThe Rev. Kirk Haas
Morgantown, WV
www.trinitymorgantown.org
One of Trinity's noted activities is the Community Kitchen...which serves a noon meal six days a week to the needy. This program has operated successfully for more than 25 years. Other churches are now included in this worthwhile program.
Please pray for...the parish as it considers its direction. There will be a parish meeting in
September.
Over the course of the year, we will be contacting all parishes requesting information about any ministry you would like highlighted in the MAC newsletter. However, if you have a time-sensitive ministry you would like for us to include in an upcoming newsletter, please contact Heather Adams at hadams@acn-mac.org.
Did You Know?
Have you been hearing the phrase "Common Cause Partners" a lot recently? Common Cause Partners, founded in June 2004, represents an unprecedented alliance of several churches and ministries in the Anglican tradition. The groups represent or provide pastoral oversight for approximately 200,000 Christians in the Anglican tradition. The following are the ministries and churches that comprise the Common Cause Partners:
American Anglican Council- http://www.americananglican.org
Anglican Communion Network- http://www.acn-us.org/
Anglican Essentials Canada- http://www.anglicanessentials.ca/
Anglican Mission in America- http://www.theamia.org/
Anglican Network in Canada- http://www.anglicannetwork.ca/
Anglican Province of America- http://www.anglicanprovince.org/
Convocation of Anglicans in North America- http://www.canaconvocation.org/
Forward in Faith North America- http://www.forwardinfaith.com
Reformed Episcopal Church- http://www.recus.org/
The Common Cause Partners recent met in Pittsburgh from August 16-18, 2006. For a detailed report on the Common Cause meeting last week, please go to www.acn-us.org .
The Mid-Atlantic Convocation offers its prayers of blessings and support for Bishop Martyn Minns...who was consecrated August 20 in Abuja, Nigeria. Bishop Minns will serve a missionary bishop for the Convocation of Anglicans in America (CANA). CANA was formed by the Church of Nigeria in 2005 for Nigerian Anglicans in the United States and also for American Anglicans seeking to remain in unimpaired relationship with the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Recommended Reading
The Heavenly Man
The remarkable true story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun
By Lui Yun and Paul Hattaway
Published by Monarch, London and Park Rapids, 2002
The Heavenly Man is an autobiographical portrait of a young man who becomes a fervent disciple of Christ amidst great persecution in China. It is a wonderful testimony to the power of God in today's world. This book reads easily, but the message is profound. With God, anything is possible. Every reader will be inspired! The insights Lui shares and his belief in the authority of God's Word will challenge the reader to examine his or her faith. This book would make a great home study for groups to read and discuss.
Upcoming Events
For Your Prayer Calendar...
Pray for God's guidance, wisdom and discernment, for those attending three meetings in September:
1. Global South Primates' meeting, September 18-22
2. New York meeting convened by Bishop Lee and Bishop Lipscomb, September 11-13 (see below)
3. Texas meeting convened by Texas Bishop Don Wimberly, September 19-22 (see below)
The Anglican Communion Office's News Service issued the following statements August 18 about the latter two meetings:
In New York- "Following consultation with the Presiding Bishop, the Archbishop of Canterbury has asked Bishop Peter Lee of Virginia and Bishop John Lipscomb of Southwest Florida to convene a small group of bishops from the Episcopal Church (USA) to meet together to discuss some of the difficult issues facing the Church and to explore possible resolutions. Along with Bishop Griswold, those invited include Bishop Katherine [sic] Jefferts Schori, Bishop Bob Duncan, and Bishop Jack Iker. The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion will also attend. The first meeting will be taking place in New York in the first half of September."
In Texas- "Texas Bishop Don Wimberly invited a limited number of bishops to a meeting September 19-22, 2006. In a letter to invitees, he said that the aim of the meeting was 'to arrive at a common response to the current circumstances of the Episcopal Church' one that will insure an unimpaired relation between bishops who uphold the requests of the Windsor Report and the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other Primates of the Anglican Communion." Wimberly has not released the list of original invitees or a current list of those who have accepted his invitation."
(Do you have an event you would like listed in the MAC newsletter? Please send the event information to hreichert@acn-mac.org )
Feel free to forward this newsletter to members of your congregation. Past and current issues will be available on the MAC website.
"Stop praying for persecution in China to end. We in fact, are praying that the American church might taste the same persecution so revival would come [there] like we have seen in China." Attributed to Chinese House leader, Brother Lui Yun
John Guernsey, Dean | George Beaven, Church Planting Director | Heather Adams, Executive Assistant | Heidi Reichert, Administrative Assistant
Mid-Atlantic Convocation | Anglican Network Communion
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Trinity is very near West Virginia University and welcomes student participation in its parish life.