The Anglican Church in North America is celebrating the consecrations of the Ven. Julian Dobbs and the Rev. Canon Dr. Felix Orji as suffragan bishops in the Convocation of Anglicans in North America. Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, is consecrating both men today at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church in Lagos, Nigeria. Bishop Orji is the new bishop assigned to provide Episcopal oversight to Christ the Redeemer in the Anglican Church in North America. He will remain the rector of St. Francis on the Hill in El Paso, Texas, as well as a bishop for CANA. He and Lillian, his wife, have four children.

As mentioned during the Sunday morning Adult Education session, here are the parables to study for Sep 25th, 2011:

Parable #1 — Matthew 9:16 — New Cloth Patch on an Old Coat

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk [new] cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.”

Parable #2 — Matthew 9:17 — New Wine in Old Wineskins

“Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Parable #3 — Matthew 5:14-15 — Lamp on a Stand

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

Parable #4 — Luke 6:46-49 — Wise and Foolish Builders

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Parable #5 — Luke 7:41-47 — The Moneylender

“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little, loves little.”

Parable #6 — Luke 8:16-39 — The Lamp on a Stand

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”

Andy & Liz Gaffaney are involved in Kairos Outside which is a ministry to those who have loved ones who are incarcerated. They will have tickets today for a fundraiser on September 24 at 6:30pm at Saturn Road Church of Christ in Garland. The church is at the corner of Saturn & Kingsley. There will be a dinner followed by a silent auction and drawing. The tickets are $10. See Andy or Liz today if you are interested. The funds raised will help with a weekend retreat in October for women who are impacted by the incarceration of a loved one.

Our Adult Education class on Sunday mornings will be taught by Fr. Lawrence and studying the parables of Jesus.

The Wednesday evening Bible study will begin with 2 Timothy.

We’re beginning our new service schedule. We will have an 8am service only on the first Sunday of each month, starting October 2nd. This will be a very traditional service.

Our worship service will remain at 9:30am followed by Christian  Education for all ages, including Pre-K through 12th grade.

If you are connected online, and use the service Twitter, there’s a new way to get your CTR news and updates. The latest announcements from the bulletin, as well as other bits of news are posted there at the same time they’re posted to the website. This is a good way to find out about quick news, like last minute changes to event times or things of that nature. If you use Twitter, please follow us at http://twitter.com/ctranglicans and have CTR delivered straight to you!

The Library in the Parish Hall is waiting for you to check out books! It’s self-serve so pick out the book you’d like to read, log it in the notebook provided, and enjoy a good read. Be sure and stop by and see what’s available.

AND DON’T FORGET TO BRING THE BOOKS BACK WHEN YOU ARE DONE!

A heartfelt thank you to all of the many volunteers who gave of their time and talents to make VBS a great success! It is through your loving service that children saw the love of Jesus. May God bless you for all you did.

Recently, the CANA Council 2011 wrapped up, and the CTR delegation returned, and gave a wonderful account of the events there.  They also spoke very highly of our new bishop, Felix Orji.  If you desire to hear more, please ask any one of the CTR attendees.

Anyway, at the Council meetings, Bishop Martyn Minns read his annual Pastoral Call.  A transcript of that is now available on our website at the following link.  The file is a PDF file, which can be read by the free Adobe Reader program.

http://www.rowlettanglicans.org/files/Bishop_Minns_Pastoral_Call_2011.pdf

This coming Wednesday evening, July 27th, will be the last time we get together on Wednesday for potluck and teaching before the summer break. Everyone who is able is encouraged to come and enjoy this last time (for a while!) of fellowship on Wednesday.