One thing only I can guarantee is that if we do not forsake Christ here in Papua in His Body, the Church, He will not forsake us. He will uphold us; He will strengthen us and He will guide us and keep us though the days that lie ahead. If we all left, it would take years for the Church to recover from our betrayal of our trust. If we remain—and even if the worst came to the worst and we were all to perish in remaining—the Church would not perish, for there would have been no breach of trust in its walls, but its foundations and structure would have received added strength for the future building by our faithfulness unto death.

--The Rt. Rev. Philip Strong, Bishop of New Guinea, to the Anglican missionaries serving in New Guinea prior to the Japanese invasion in 1942.  The 333 Martyrs of New Guinea--clergy, religious, teachers, evangelists, Papuan and Western, and 12 of them Anglican--are commemorated on September 2nd.

 

 

 

So when one says, "Moses meant as I do"; and another, "Nay, but as I do," I suppose that I speak more reverently, "Why not rather as both, if both be true?" And if there be a third, or a fourth, yea if any other seeth any other truth in those words, why may not he be believed to have seen all these, through whom the One God hath tempered the holy Scriptures to the senses of many, who should see therein things true but diverse? For I certainly (and fearlessly I speak it from my heart), that were I to write any thing to have supreme authority, I should prefer so to write, that whatever truth any could apprehend on those matters, might be conveyed in my words, rather than set down my own meaning so clearly as to exclude the rest, which not being false, could not offend me. I will not therefore, O my God, be so rash, as not to believe, that Thou vouchsafedst as much to that great man. He without doubt, when he wrote those words, perceived and thought on what truth soever we have been able to find, yea and whatsoever we have not been able, nor yet are, but which may be found in them.

--Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Bishop and Theologian, who is commemorated on August 28th

 

 

 

 

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

 

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

 

“For your sake we are being killed all day long;

we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Rom. 8:26-39)

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters of St. Andrew's, it is my sad duty to inform you that Kathy Charvat, Rick Clarke's wife, passed into the nearer presence of Our Lord this morning.  "Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon her."

 

I will inform you as to arrangements when they are finalized.  Please do keep Rick and his family in your prayers.

 

--Fr. Jason

 

 

Grant, O Lord, to all who are bereaved the spirit of faith and

courage, that they may have strength to meet the days to

come with steadfastness and patience; not sorrowing as those

without hope, but in thankful remembrance of your great

goodness, and in the joyful expectation of eternal life with

those they love. And this we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ

our Savior. Amen.