St. John the Divine Anglican Church

“When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus.” from the letter to Philmon. The letter to Philemon, from which we read today, is a very interesting letter, unlike any other of the letters of St. Paul. It starts off with a personal greeting; “To Philemon our dear friend and

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” From the letter to the Hebrews. We have been reading a section of the Letter to the Hebrews, and for the last two weeks we have heard about fire as a purifying, refining force. “Our God

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.” from the letter to the Hebrews. Last week we heard these words from the Gospel according to St. Luke; “Jesus said, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it

“Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” From the Letter to the Hebrews. Last Sunday we read from the Letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 11, about faith. Let me refresh your memories of the key verse in this section: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By

“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” From the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians. This short letter from St. Paul to the believers in Colossae, is full of good advice for Christian living. Colossae was in the region of Phrygia and Galatia, in Asia Minor. In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke records some details

“Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” From the Gospel according to St. Luke. Teach us to pray. That is at once a simple request, and profound statement. It seems odd to me that the disciples would ask such a question. Surely they would be familiar with prayer.

“You who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him– provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.” From St. Paul’s Epistle