Roseberry's Leaderboard

Dear Friends,

It is so good to be back. I felt that the Holy Spirit gave me such joy in being with you at 9:15 and 11 a.m. this past Sunday. The subject of the message, “You Need Not Go Away”, stuck with me all week. Listen/watch the message here to get the full idea.

There was one other thing I wanted to stress to our parents:  YOUR CHILDREN NEED TO HEAR AND KNOW THIS MESSAGE FROM JESUS. They need to hear that Jesus will NOT send them away. It won’t matter if they are raised in a newly Christian home or a home of long-standing faith; every young person is going to come to a point in life when they feel utterly alone.

At that moment, where would you want them to turn? People are not built for being alone. They will turn to someone…or to something. Parents, let’s partner together so that when those moments happen…and they surely will…your kids will know that Jesus is there for them. I can promise you that we are doing everything we can to prepare to teach and reach your kids with the powerful love of Jesus Christ. But they need to be here. They need to attend. And unless they have can drive themselves here, YOU NEED TO BRING THEM.

I got back from the moving/study break and was so impressed to see our student ministries gearing up for the fall. What a great year we are going to have. It all begins on August 22. Please don’t neglect this critical role in the life of your children.

Renewing the Church
I’m in Pittsburgh for a few days this week. I serve as a member of the Archbishop’s Cabinet for the ACNA. I am honored to help this new expression of Anglicanism take shape and root in the U.S. and Canada. (I recently heard that we have three new missions in Cuba!) God is doing some wonderful things here as He is renewing His church. It is an honor to witness this.

Now here are a few more things you need to know…

Holy Land Trip
Last year, Fran and I had to cancel the planned Holy Land pilgrimage because of unrest in the Middle East. But now we are planning again, and we are so excited to be hosting another tour. The next trip will leave on January 30, 2012. We are using a different tour company who is giving us a great price. Same incredible ten days…with an extension to Athens and Corinth. I’d love for you to join us. Check it out here.

A Word About Roof Dog Run
I’d like to ask for your support of the Roof Dog Run this year, even if you are not a runner. This annual event at Christ Church has become an integral part of our mission and ministry to Peru. For the

Last year's Roof Dog Run was a great success. With your help, it can grow bigger this year!

first three years, the proceeds from the Run went toward the day-to-day support of the kids in our orphanage in Peru. But for the past two years, the proceeds went specifically to build a brand new dormitory for the kids. Right now, that dorm is almost finished and the kids are about to move in! It is a dream come true for these children and lots of adults who love them. The blessing of your support has and will make a huge difference in these kids’ lives by providing shelter and opportunities that they never would have had without you. So, when you see the ads for Roof Dog Run in the weeks to come, please consider how you might participate. Even if you don’t run, you can walk, you can volunteer, or you can do the “sleep-in” option…which really just means to stay home in bed and make a generous donation. Any way you want to help will be appreciated. The 6th Annual Roof Dog Run is Sat, Sept 10. Learn more, volunteer, and register here.

Under Budget
Finally, speaking of your donations, here is a financial update for you. Traditionally, in the summertime, our attendance falls off a little because of vacations, and our giving to the operating fund tends to follow. Such is the case this year, except that the operating fund if particularly sluggish because some givers seem to have diverted their giving to ”Renew for Our Future”. Right now, the operating fund is more than $400,000 under budget.

Don’t get me wrong…all giving is appreciated and most surely pleases God. It’s wonderful that your giving to “Renew” has already eliminated over half our debt! However, as you make your giving decisions, I hope you will also remember that the operating fund needs to stay healthy throughout the year. It depends on your steady giving so that we can take care of basic necessities such as changing the parking lot lights, which was done this week. Here is a photo of Nozar, a member of our operations team, in a rented lift. Parking lots lights may seem like a small detail, but it is no small undertaking to rent a lift for a few days and pay someone to go up in it and change bulbs. (Thanks, guys, for braving this extreme heat!)

Changing the light bulbs in the Archgate parking lot.

Fresh paint for Archgate Center

And here is another photo of a crew painting around Archgate Center. (By the way, they are also painting/updating the Youth Café and you’re going to love the new look!)

The point is that a large campus like ours costs money to maintain. Many in our church family have opted to automate their giving so that it stays steady even when they are traveling. To read about all the giving options available to you, go here. Thanks so much for your support.

God bless you. ‘See you Sunday.
David+

Dear Friends,

Today I have an important announcement about our affiliation with the Anglican world.  Since our departure from the Episcopal Church in 2006, the Vestry of Christ Church and our clergy have been careful to stay connected to the larger Anglican world through our bishops. We have been affiliated with the AMiA (Anglican Mission in the Americas) since January of 2007. It has been a very happy relationship. We have been well served and, by God’s Grace, we (our church and its clergy) have been able to make significant contributions to its mission and ministry. It has been a blessing to be there.

In the summer of 2009, the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) was born. Representatives of all the Anglican bodies within U.S. and Canada attended a conference in Bedford and launched the beginnings of a new “proto-Province” within the Anglican Communion. Then, as many here would remember, the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan was instituted as the new Archbishop of the ACNA at Christ Church.  Those who attended would surely agree with me: It was one of the finest moments I can remember at Christ Church.

It was at this Investiture that Anglican1000 was born.  At this Investiture, the world “saw” the fullness of this new fledgling movement.  There were dozens of bishops, hundreds of clergy, and still hundreds more laity.  Many of us were weeping for joy to be part of a new united work that God was doing in our North America.

Recently, for reasons fully explained in a letter to the members of the AMiA, Bishop Chuck Murphy led the AMiA through a change of status within the ACNA.  He and the Council of Bishops of the AMiA petitioned the ACNA to be a “Ministry Partner” rather than a full member of the ACNA. Much of the reasons for this have to do with the AMiA’s desire to stay fully linked with the Province of Rwanda and maintain their own missionary culture in North America.

In consultation with our Vestry and our clergy, I have asked Bishop Murphy to accept our request for transfer to the ACNA, in order to remain within the North American provincial structure.  Bishop Murphy graciously heard my desire and will grant our transfer.  Therefore, within the next week or so, our congregation, our clergy, and our parish will be canonically transferred to the ACNA.

Our long term plan is to work with other Anglican churches in the Dallas area and build a Diocesan structure in the Dallas metroplex, but that will take a few years to realize.  In the interim we will be linked to the oversight ministry of the Archbishop of the ACNA and the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Archbishop

Archbishop Robert Duncan at ACNA Investiture at Christ Church in June 2009

Robert Duncan.  This Christ Church/ACNA/Diocese of Pittsburgh relationship will be a blessing for all of us. Already we are engaged in the important work of Anglican1000 (an initiative of the ACNA).

I realize that for nearly all in our church this will be truly a transparent event. Nothing will change. Our mission and our ministry will go on as it has gone on for 25 years now. We will have plenty of occasions to meet and welcome Bishop Duncan here in the future. Our 6th grade class will love him when he comes for their Confirmation ceremony.  He is a good man and a Godly bishop…and now he is our overseeing bishop. We are truly blessed. This link allows us to continue to build our work here in the North Dallas area and to partner with other clergy and bishops and dioceses all over North America to expand the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Personally, I am very thankful for the response I received from Bishop Murphy.  And I give thanks to God for the long-standing relationship that I have…and that Christ Church  now has…with the Archbishop, Robert Duncan. With the blessings we have been given here, we also have the joy of sharing as well.  Christ Church will be able to transfer its financial pledge to the AMiA directly to the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the ACNA.

Thank you for your trust and confidence over these past 25 years.  We have seen God do great things here, and as we celebrate 25 years of ministry this year, we know that God is leading us onward!

Fall First Communion Class With Fr. David, Walking by 3D Faith

Here are some other things you should know this week:

First 3D Communion
Last Sunday, I had the privilege of welcoming our second graders into the Sanctuary for their very first Communion. When I presented them as a class, I wore the special 3D glasses, a prop for my sermon about how the Christian faith allows us to see things in the world and make God’s word real in ourlives. Here is a group photo of our little ones.

Update on Josh and The Afters
Have you had the pleasure of catching The Afters’ hit single, Light Up the Sky, on the radio lately? It’s getting a lot of play, and we are so proud to be the home church for Josh’s wonderful ministry. A few weeks ago, I got to sit and chat with him about what it means to have the Christ Church family praying for him and his family on those weeks when he’s on the road. Our chat is part of this video about The Afters. Check it out.

Construction Begins in Peru
Last month, the Roof Dog Run raised over $50,000 for our new orphanage in Peru. Now, the fun part: Construction begins this week in Peru as they build the two story dormitory that will house 24 youth, an expanded kitchen and dining area, a computer lab and library. In addition to that, we plan to retrofit the existing facilities to provide transitional housing for some of our youth who will soon be again out of the orphanage. Your prayers and financial support have made this possible. Thanks be to God.

‘See you this weekend.
In Christ,
David+

Dear Friends,

It isn’t too often that a reporter covers a church service ‘on the beat’…but here is what Julie Duin from the Washington Times wrote about the service we had last night at Christ Church:

I’ve been doing this religion writer thing for more than 30 years and in the course of my travels, I’ve done Rome and Canterbury and Jerusalem; ordinations, installations and consecrations of everyone from Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl to New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson. I’ve done papal Masses all over the country with two popes. But I’ve rarely been in a service where every single piece of music was beautifully done at top level during a 2 hour+ service involving 1,500 people.

(Read it all here…you will be blessed.)

Heard it 100 Times
If I heard it one time today, I heard it 100 times. Christ Church blessed 1300 Anglicans from around the world – 60 bishops, 325 clergy, hundreds of laity, and one brand, spanking-new Archbishop, The Most Rev. Robert W. Duncan, whose service of “Investiture” was the occasion of our gathering.

Why is this important? Because the rag-tag, scattered parts of the Anglican Communion that have been dispersed over the last few decades have come together as the Anglican Church in North America. We now have a formal group, with a formal Archbishop…and a formal set of Canons and Constitution. It is a proto-province, if you will, of the Anglican Communion. Perhaps it will be recognized soon…perhaps not. It doesn’t matter. The one thing we can do is move on together as a body of Christ to reach people with the love of Christ which is the mission of our church.

I was greatly heartened by the whole thing, and that rarely happens to me at church conferences. But this one said, “Go…” and “Go as one”…the very thing we want to do. For more photos click here.

The Human Equation
I can’t help but thank the human equation here. Mark and Danny and Brenda of our music and worship team were simply amazing. The music of the choir and vocal team was over the top. I can’t say it more emphatically. Stunning!  I commissioned a piece of music for the Installation from John Wasson (big shout-out here). He fused together the drum rhythms of Africa, the great cathedral sounds of England, and American styles to “Praise My Soul the King of Heaven”. It was the talk of the conference today.

And the love and hospitality of Christ Church are now legendary. Thank you all for being useful to God…and a blessing for many others.

A Lot Going On
I’m a bit exhausted from the last few days and there is so much more that is going on. For example, VBS, which Fran and I will sneak into tomorrow morning…can’t wait to see the kids in action. The Fellowship Hall last night was full of robed clergy with the stage all decorated as a swamp. Inauspicious…but fun. And then there is the Christ Church women’s mission trip to Guatemala. Check out their blog here.

If you aren’t coming to Christ Church may I say it this boldly – you are missing out on something amazing that is happening.  Renewal and hope even in the hot summer.

Don’t miss a week-end!

Blessings,
David+

Dear Friends,

Why Men Are the Way They Are…That is the subject of my message this weekend, and I think it will be of great interest to the men of Christ Church. It might be of even greater interest to the women of our parish! I have been teaching On Point Men’s Bible Study for several years. I know a great number of guys at Christ Church. I know where they struggle. I know what makes them tick. And I know me, too. But more importantly, I also know what the Bible has to say about men. I hope to unlock some of this critical information in my Father’s Day message at 9:15 and 11:00 on Sunday. It will be a message that will challenge both the men and women, to be sure. But I think there will be great joy in this message because of what we know about the nature of God. My text will come from the Book of Genesis. Please pray for me as I work on this message…I have had a busy week.

My Last Word on Letterman
My letter last week generated a lot of light…and some heat. It seems that David Letterman got the message that many around the country were sending. He has since formally apologized for his rude and coarse remarks. Governor Palin has accepted his apology and the story may die out. For my part, I am still finished with Letterman for good. I need the extra sleep anyway.

About the LeaderBoard Blog
Last week’s was the most-clicked posts in recent memory. I want to thank those of you who participated in the discussion by commenting on this LeaderBoard blog. Some of my articles here are meant to get people thinking about the intersection between our faith in Christ and the culture we live in. I encourage you to take part and chime in. I would simply ask that, as you respond to my comments and comments from others who enter into discussion, let’s keep it focused on the topic. I will reserve the right to delete any comment that I deem “off topic” to the thread of discussion. Common rules of Christian discourse should apply.

Here are a few things you should know:

1. Click to view Josh Havens interview

   Josh Havens
   I have a regret from the last few months. When Josh Havens began here as our “artist in residence” I did not take the time to introduce him properly. Things were so busy week to week that I never found the time. As a result, many of you only know him for his music and his voice. You might be surprised and delighted to know more about him and his national ministry. So, I made a video! I hope that you will take the time to watch it. He is a great joy to have as a friend and fellow servant of Christ. And he comes with the best credential of all: He was baptized by Fr. Ted! 

2. VBS
   Next week the Christ Church campus will be a swamp. Every year we are delighted to turn our attention to the youngest (and cutest) members of our church for VBS. The campus will be alive with over 400 children plus student helpers, teachers, leaders, singers, and staff. What a week…and hurray (in advance) for Katherine Somich, our children’s ministry leader, and her team of staff and volunteers.
3. ACNA Convention – A Big Deal
   I will be away (sad to say) all week at a church convention in Bedford. While most conventions are not as exciting as VBS, this one might be different. This is the inaugural Convention of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA.) It is a big deal. I was interviewed by the Dallas Morning News about it yesterday and I started to think of the importance of this convention. The various organizations that have existed in North America for the last decade are coming together. It is an exciting and hopeful time, and one that so many in the Anglican Communion have prayed for and worked tirelessly for. Over 800 delegates are registered to come. Go here for new information.

   Christ Church is hosting the Investiture of the New Archbishop of the ACNA, the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, this Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. It will be a packed house at Christ Church. You are certainly invited to attend.

4. Planting New Churches
   This week I made a quick trip to Kansas City to speak to the “other” Christ Church, Christ Church Overland Park. This is where Fr. Ron McCrary served for almost 20 years and grew it to be one of the largest congregations in the country. They have recently decided to join the AMiA (our own affiliation) and I am here to help them get the idea of what it was like to come into the Anglican Mission.
   Meanwhile, Fr. Ron was back at Christ Church Plano hosting over 45 people who were attending AIM’s Anglican School of Church Planting. The whole class came over to our house for dinner Tuesday night. Their comments on the school and the quality of the teaching were outstanding. What a great sign of our future…so many who want to plant new churches. Click the thumbnails below to view a photo of the class and a map of where they have all come from:

   

   

   
   

   And finally, a word about service… It is wonderful to see how many Christ Church volunteers have given their time to support this church-planting conference. Dozens in our church family have hosted visitors in their homes, some have brought and served food, a prayer team has prayed for each participant, and some of our staff have given time in addition to their Christ Church responsibilities. There is a great attitude of service around this event. Thank you all!

That’s it. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

In Christ, David+

I have been a fan of David Letterman for many, many years. I have watched his late night show for longer than I can remember. But he has changed. He used to be a funny man, an adequate comedian, and a good interviewer. But what was his most charming gift he has lost. He used to be a self-deprecating humorist, poking fun at his dorky, dweebie self. It was endearing, in a way.

But something in him has soured…and he has lost me as a fan, for good. His recent treatment of Sarah Palin and her daughter was despicable and mean. Not funny. Mean. But he has been mean recently anyway. I noticed this firsthand when, in September, Fran and I fulfilled my lifelong dream of attending the David Letterman Show. It was thrilling to be in line for two hours. I grabbed a sandwich for Fran and me at the Hello Deli. It was exciting to be ushered into the Ed Sullivan theatre by the fabled Late Night interns. And it was great to hear Paul Schaeffer and the CBS orchestra. But honestly, the show was dull. Worse than that, Letterman was mean to his audience in his pre-show warm up. He was plain mean…and coarse.

But what has been on the airwaves the last few days has been terrible. Letterman, you will note, is a 62-year-old man who had a child out of wedlock…then married the mother…and he has the gall to make jokes about the Palin family! Did he know that the child he was suggesting was raped is only 14 years old? Does it really matter? He claims now that he meant to direct the humor about rape toward the 18-year-old Bristol Palin, and not the 14-year-old. Does it matter?

You can read about it here and draw your own conclusions. But in my opinion an icon of late night television went dumpster diving a few nights ago…and it is a real shame. I’m going to visit a dumpster soon, too. I have a souvenir Letterman t-shirt to drop off.

But wait, there’s more…

More About Being Born Again
I have a small truth-telling admission to make about last Sunday’s sermon. I never finished it. Of course I stopped preaching…but there was a whole lot more on the ‘pulpit’, so to speak, when I finished talking. Will you come again for “Part 2″ of the “Nick at Nite” message? This one will be called, “The New Birth.”

There is much more to understand about this. I have heard from many people for whom a few lights went on when I described the intent of Jesus saying to Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” But I need just a bit more time to outline what this new birth is, how it takes place, what it does in a person’s life, and how we need it to see the Kingdom of God.

Message to All Men
The following Sunday will be Father’s Day and (I NEVER say this, but…) the Lord has been placing a message on my heart for the men of Christ Church. That includes all men…dads or not. I have been teaching and leading the men of our church through On Point for over five years. It has been a true blessing for me and I believe that I have a very good relationship with our men. I am going to presume on that friendship and ask you to please bring or be brought to church on Father’s Day.

A Big Deal
Many of you know about the upcoming ACNA investiture of the new Archbishop, Robert Duncan. What you may not know is that it is going to be a big deal. We are hosting it on Wednesday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. in our Sanctuary. There will be open seating, though we will reserve a large number of seats for the clergy and bishops of the ACNA. Our music ministry is leading the worship and I have commissioned a special piece of music for the occasion. There will be a reception following the service. I truly hope you will be there. It is not to be missed.

More Good Books
I have discovered two more books that I would like to place on your reading list this summer. Try Jim and Casper Go to Church by Jim Henderson and Matt Casper. I wrote about it here. And I am now reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I am in the middle of it now so I can’t tell you how it will end, but so far it is a glorious awakening to the extraordinary splendor of God and His love for us.

‘See you this weekend.
David+