Fr Trey: April 2008 Archives

Here is yesterday's sermon:
(11 min 52 seconds - I got long winded!)

Easter - VI.mp3

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Sunday's sermon will be up at some point tomorrow. I'm learning first hand exactly how busy one priest can truly be. That being said, I had a marvelous meeting with the pastor of Pendleton Street Baptist Church. They are our next  door neighbors and have been for over 100 years.  I have found Pastor Price to be an incredibly kind and Godly man who was not only very hospitable, but has a great deal of church planting experience.  I hope that our two churches will be able to share some ministries together. 


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I did not get the CD after mass today that has the service recorded on it. This is due to the fact we had vestry and a luncheon.  I will post the sermon by tomorrow evening if the CD has been burned. 

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I am utterly astounded at the amount of universal salvation that is found in the church today.  "Universal Salvation" is the concept that salvation is offered to all regardless of their belief or action.  This, of course, is a clear contradiction of scripture.  Last Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday, we heard Jesus say, "I am the gate."  This Sunday we will hear the most clear statement on Salvation that simply leaves NO room for misinterpreting. St. Thomas asks, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"  Jesus responds, " I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  (NRSV)

That, dear friends, is clear cut scripture. Salvation comes only through Christ- period.  To believe anything else sets one apart from Holy Mother Church.  I'm alarmed that some clergy have opted to follow the secularist view that salvation is a universal thing, Jesus says something quite contrary to that.  Frankly, I'm putting my bet on the words of Jesus rather than modern theologians.  It seems that everyone in society wants to fit in and just get along.  For temporal aspects- I have no problem.  But when people determine that the church must follow society- I have a real disagreement.  The Church is not a fraternal or service organisation. The Church is the Body of Christ- the body of the faithful. 

St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, in 202 wrote,  "The Word of God became human, the Son of God became the Son of Man in order to unite us with himself and make us, by adoption, children and heirs of God.  Only by being united to one who is himself immune could we be preserved from corruption and death." 

 

Further, St. John Crysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, in 407 wrote, "Many rather careless persons who are inclined to abuse God's loving kindness to increase the magnitude of their sins and indulge in excessive negligence mouth such words as these: 'There is no hell; there is no future judgement; God forgives all our sins.'  To reduce them to silence a wide man states, 'Say not: "Great is his mercy; my many sins he will forgive." For mercy and anger are alike with himl upon the wicked alights his wrath.' and again : 'Great as his mercy is his punishment.'"  There is no question God is full of mercy and compassion- but there is equally no question that we have a judgement and requirements for salvation. 

By request, I am including the Offertory, Canon, Fraction and Inviation.

Offertory through Invitation.mp3

Here is today's short homily along with the new rector's address (or some form thereof.)

Easter - IV.mp3

May be found here.

Here is the file from my first Sunday sermon at St. Andrew's:

First Sunday at St. As.mp3

I am working with the CD from April 1 to try and increase the audio to put the sermon from April 1 up here on the website- but the audio was so low that it may not be possible.

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Over the past several years, it seems that in one way or another I have moved every two years or so- including an international move.  Yet this move to Greenville, I think, has been one of the hardest.  It is never easy for a Texan to leave Texas.   The anticipation of one's first rectorship also weighs heavily on the soul.  Truly- once you arrive the real work begins in multiple senses.  There is the feeling that the house is occupied by a family of boxes, knowing that one of them holds the magical power cord that I have desperately been searching for- others hold stuff that I thought I had thrown away.  Being a packrat will do that to you, I suppose.  Yet even with the unpacking and the great question, "Now where in the world do I put this?" - the anticipation of a new parish is forefront in the mind.  I suddenly understood why King Solomon prayed for wisdom- it is a huge undertaking and a most awesome responsibility.

Last night, however, was more than I could have dreamed of- it was truly the Lord's doing and for that I give thanks.  It was a wonderful affirmation of God's call to me to serve the people of St. Andrew's.  The congregation is incredibly friendly, funny, and gracious.  It is truly inclusive of all of God's children and for that I give thanks.  Presiding at St. Andrew's last night was a treat. It was incredibly comfortable and just felt right.  It is something that I will cherish and will continue to look forward to for many years to come.

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