Today’s Anglican Voice
Volume 3 Number 4 Winter 2010
A Woman’s Perspective on Anglicanism
IN THIS ISSUE
Editorial: Let’s Keep Christmas
General News.
• Two hundredth and Eighteenth Anniversary
• Mainline Churches Sign Letter Supporting Taxpayer Funding of Abortions
• The Nation’s Capital Allows Homosexual Couples to Marry
• Think They’ll Like the Cold Midwest After Cushy Life in Gitmo?
Anglican News & Comment
• Project Joy – Prisoners Serving Prisoners
• Holy Redeemer Christmas Services
• Manhattan Declaration
• Community of Compassion
• Anglican Church of India / Anglican Church of Virginia Strengthen Ties
• Roman Catholic Church Seeks to Include ACOVA
• ACIC Endorses Affirmation of St. Louis
• Anglican Presence in Harrisonburg, VA Grows
• Anglican Church of Virginia Experiments with Web Broadcasts
• Upcoming Synod Plans Being Made
Health & Family News
• Making the Holidays Holy-Days
• Make Your Own Cedar Salve
EDITORIAL
Let’s Keep Christmas, excerpted from a sermon by 1940s Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall
…There will be the fragrance of cookies baking, spices, and fruit cake … and the warmth of the house shall be
melodious with the lilting strains of “Silent Night, Holy Night. “ And you’ll listen to the wonderful Christmas music
on the radio or television. Some of the songs will be modern – good enough music perhaps – but it will be the
old carols, the lovely old Christmas hymns, that will mean the most.
And forests of fir trees will march right into our living rooms. There will be bells on our doors and holly wreaths
in our windows … And we shall sweep the Noel skies for their brightest colors and festoon our homes with stars.
And finally Christmas morning will come. Don’t worry – you’ll be ready for it – You’ll catch the spirit all right, or it
will catch you, which is even better. And then you will remember what Christmas really means – the beginning
of Christianity … the Second Chance for the world … the hope for peace … and the only way.
The promise that the angels sang is the most wonderful music the world has ever heard: “peace on earth and
good will toward men.” It was not a pronouncement upon the state of the world then. Nor is it a reading of the
international barometer of the present time…but it is a promise – God’s promise – of what one day will come to
pass.
The years that are gone are graveyards in which all the persuasions of men have crumbled into dust. If history
has any voice, it is to say that all these ways of men lead nowhere. There remains one way – The Way –
untried, untested, unexplored fully … the way of Him who was born a Babe in Bethlehem.
In a world that seems not only to be changing, but even to be dissolving, there are millions of us who want
Christmas to be the same … with the same old greeting “Merry Christmas” and no other.
We long for the abiding love among men of good will that the season brings … Because we believe in this
ancient miracle of Christmas with its softening, sweetening influence to tug at our heart strings once again.
We want to hold onto the old customs and traditions because they strengthen our family ties, bind us to our
friends, make us one with all mankind for whom the Child was born, and bring us back again to the God who
gave His only begotten Son, that “whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
So we will not “spend” Christmas …or “observe” Christmas. We will “keep” Christmas – keep it as it is … in all
the loveliness of its ancient traditions.
May we keep it in our hearts, that we may be kept in its hope. (Until his death in 1948, Peter Marshall served as
Chaplain of the United States Senate and pastor of New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.
C. His sermons had a way of transcending time … and they still do!)
General News:
TWO HUNDREDTH AND EIGHTEENTH ANNIVERSARY. This week marks the 218th anniversary of the adoption
of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights.
The National Archives, in partnership with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services, continued in its tradition of holding a naturalization ceremony for
petitioners seeking American citizenship. This year's ceremony, which was part of the 218th anniversary of the
adoption of the Bill of Rights, involved 35 petitioners being naturalized and was held in the Rotunda for the
Charters of Freedom in the National Archives. The Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom is the permanent
home of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and Bill of Rights. These three
documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, have secured the rights of the American people for
more than two and a quarter centuries.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
of abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (Amendment I)
MAINLINE CHURCHES SIGN LETTER SUPPORTING TAXPAYER FUNDING OF ABORTIONS. The Episcopal
Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Church are the four
mainline protestant denominations to sign the letter asking lawmakers to oppose the Nelson amendment which
would to remove abortion funding from the Senate government-run health care bill. They were joined by the
Disciples Justice Action Center, NA'AMAT USA, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, a pro-abortion
group, The Religious Institute, and the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. For the full story
visit http://lifenews.com/nat5742.html
THE NATION’S CAPITAL ALLOWS HOMOSEXUAL COUPLES MARRIAGE. In an 11-2 decision, the District of
Columbia City Council to legalize same-sex marriage in the nation's capital. The legislation would allow gay
couples from anywhere in the country to marry in the city. Those couples who live in the District would be
entitled to all rights afforded to heterosexual married couples under District laws. After signature by DC Mayor
Adrian Fenty (D) the measure moves to Congress for a 30-day review.
Bishop Harry Jackson and the DC Stand for Marriage Coalition pledged to step up their efforts to get Congress
or a court to block the initiative during this 30-day congressional review period. An analysis by the DC Office of
the Chief Financial Officer projects that 2,000 gay couples who live in the District will marry shortly after the law
takes effect, and that more than 10,000 same-sex couples from across the country could get married in the
District over the next three years.
The analysis is being lauded on the basis of the weddings potentially pumping millions of dollars into the
regional economy. A copy of the analysis was obtained by The Washington Post and projects that at least $5
million, and perhaps as much as $22 million, would be generated by same-sex weddings in the District over the
next three years.
THINK THEY’LL LIKE THE COLD MIDWEST AFTER CUSHY LIFE AT GITMO? On Tuesday, President Obama
announced the use of a Thomson, Illinois, prison as the future home of terror detainees from Guantanamo
Bay. The facility will undergo security upgrades that will enable it to hold military tribunals as well as prisoners
who may not face trial.
The Obama Administration has claimed the move will create 3,000 new jobs. It seems to us the Obama
Administration's commitment to creating new jobs has hit a new low. [National Federation of Republican
Women, 124 N. Alfred Street Alexandria, VA 22314
Anglican News & Comment:
PROJECT JOY SERVES PRISONERS. Rev. Dr. Gardiner of Holy Redeemer Anglican Parish delivered the
blessing at the Project Joy dinner held at Haynesville Correctional Center. Project Joy is a yearly event hosted
by the Veterans Outreach Group at Haynesville and provides gifts to a needy family in the area as well as a
dinner held within the Correctional center. This group is composed of incarcerated military veterans and was
founded in 1993 by Fr. Gardiner. It has operated continually since that time and has made Christmas special
for underprivileged families and children who would have had a bleak Christmas otherwise. “These vets work all
year to make the occasion successful and purchase gifts of toys and clothing through their own contributions
and from individuals and churches who donate,” said Fr. Gardiner, who serves the Anglican Church of Virginia
as Archdeacon. “This year’s guest speaker was a former inmate president of the group who states his life was
transformed by the group and who has become successful in the business community after leaving prison
seven years ago.”
HOLY REDEEMER SERVICES. Holy Redeemer’s Christmas Eve services will be held at Blessed Saviour
Chapel at 6:00 p.m. Christmas Day services will be at the Chapel at 9:00 AM. The Cumbee Choir will provide
seasonal; music. Holy Redeemer is in Montross, Virginia. For information and directions contact Fr. Ralph
Gardiner at trampus314@aol.com or telephone 804.493.7407.
MANHATTAN DECLARATION. Bishops Larry Johnson and Michael Robertson signed onto the Manhattan
Declaration individually. The MD is an effort by hundreds of churches and denominations to speak as one
voice in the preservation of the Christian Faith in the United States.
COMMUNITY OF COMPASSION: Prioress Mary Magdalene has prepared a plan to further put into place the
Community of Compassion which was founded at Holy Redeemer Anglican Church at Montross, Virginia. Holy
Redeemer is a Parish of the Anglican Church of Virginia. Archbishop Larry Johnson founded the Order to
provide for greater service to God’s people by dedicated women who are so called. Additional information
about the founding may be found on at www.theanglicanchurch.net.
ANGLICAN CHURCH OF INDIAN / ANGLICAN CHURCH OF VIRGINIA STRENGTHEN TIES. The Anglican
Church of India and the Anglican Church of Virginia have strengthened their communion and have pledged to
fight the persecution of Christians in India and the United States. See www.theanglicanchurch.net for more
information. Archbishop Stephen Vattappara during his visit to Evensong invited Bishop Johnson to make a
return trip to India in 2011 to lead revivals as he did in 2007. Raising funds for such a venture is a challenge
and donations will be needed to accomplish this mission.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SEEKS TO INCLUDE ACOVA. Gregory P. Lloyd, M.A. visited Evensong recently
to discuss the Pope’s November 5, 2009 proposal to Anglicans. Mr. Lloyd is the Executive Director of the
National Coalition of Clergy and Laity headquartered at Whitehall, Pennsylvania. The visit was most cordial and
informative with expressions of love and friendship for each other as well as the hope of more discussions in
the future. “The Holy Father has taken historic action relative to Anglicans,” Mr. Lloyd affirmed. Bishop Johnson
reiterated his proposal that the Anglican and Catholic Faiths, while separate, have much to achieve through
future discussions. Johnson offered as a step forward that the “Bishops of Rome and the Anglican Church of
Virginia celebrate together the Holy Communion as a first step forward.” See the Washington Times article
posted on www.theanglicanchurch.net for more information. Lloyd and Johnson will meet again soon. Lloyd has
provided complete copies of the Apostolic Constitution of Bendict XVI of Rome and Complementary Norms for
the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus. Johnson affirmed his position that reunion with Rome under
the present proposals were lacking. He said, “To join one another at the Altar is the first step. The separation
of over four-hundred years must and will require great patience and hard work to overcome.”
ACIC ENDORSES AFFIRMATION OF ST. LOUIS. The Bishops of the ACIC have agreed to support and
endorse of the Affirmation of St. Louis. The only change in wording would concern reunion with the Church of
England. The ACIC supportS wording that says, “The ancient Church of England.” This clearly sends a
message that the current Church of England is not the church we seek to reunite with.
ANGLICAN PRESENCE IN HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA GROWS. Bishop Larry Johnson is pleased with the
progress being made to create an Anglican Presence in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the heart of the Shenandoah
Valley. Missioner David Lee is leading this work and is most active laying the ground work for a future “Anglican
Movement” there. Harrisonburg is the location of James Madison University with has thousands of students and
highly held academics studies.
ANGLICAN CHURCH OF VIRGINIA EXPERIMENTS WITH WEB BROADCASTS. New at www.
theanglicanchurch.net are broadcasts by Bishop Johnson. Experimentation has been successful and uses for
this means of communication are being explored. The Bishop encourages everyone to check it out and send
him your ideas.
UPCOMING SYNOD PLANS BEING MADE. Work will begin soon for the 2010 ACIC Synod. ACIC College of
Bishops President the Rt. Rev. Martin Sigillito, Esq. has indicated hopes that it will again be in Virginia. Dates
and Times will be announced in the future.
Health & Family News
MAKING THE HOLIDAY HOLY-DAYS. Studies at Duke University (North Carolina) show that spending five to
ten minutes each day reflecting on the good in your life can cut output of the stress hormone cortisol by 22%.
The finding concluded that we can heighten that effect by saying thankful thoughts out loud – “as if you were
praying.” What a novel idea.
MAKE YOUR OWN CEDAR SALVE: MOISTURIZING, ANTISEPTIC AND ANTIVIRAL. Chapped winter hands
can be delightfully healed with a salve you can easily make yourself, if you have access to cedar trees. You
can use Northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) or Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.)This time of
year is perfect for clipping the tips (which is last springs’ new growth). Clip a handful and shake off any dust,
spiders, etc. Infuse them over very low heat in enough olive oil to cover. To be sure you don’t “cook” the oil,
you can do this in a crock pot. Heat the oil and cedar tips for about twenty minutes. Cover and remove from
heat. Let it sit for an hour or two. Strain so that you have just the now pleasant cedar-smelling olive oil. Add
grated beeswax (1 part beeswax to 3 parts olive oil) and allow the wax to melt, being careful to keep the heat
very low. Remove the mixture and pour into a container. If you have essential oils, try adding a few drops of
pine or cedar for extra scent. This is a good product to have in the car to use on your hands after being in the
grocery store or public restroom. The salve also will treat rashes, lacerations, cooking burns and can be good
for warts and toenail fungus!
“Sondra B Johnson, Publisher / Editor-in-Chief. Post Office Box 2081 Front Royal, Virginia 22630
SondraBJ@shentel.net
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